American Legion Park’s drastic renovations took up a majority of the time at a special called meeting Monday of the Parks and Rec Planning and Development Committee. This year’s long project is beginning to come out of its planning phase with more tangible development being discussed and a tentative completion date of summer 2025 being set.
Pat Hoagland, VP of Brandstetter Carroll Inc. the design firm working with the committee was given top billing on the agenda, updating members on the progress made so far, utilizing a blown up print out of the design.
The American Legion Park design plan provided to the committee by Hoagland.
As with any great undertaking, cost is still a factor with Hoagland explaining that demolition will cost around $250,000 and phase 1 of the project costing around $10 million. Hoagland explained that the first thing to do is to get the utilities such as sewer and water for the park set up for the new design.
Committee member Patrick Gaunce raised the question of how the tank that sits in the middle of the park will be handled.
Mayor Henry Royse responded.
Hoagland also discussed constraints set by the Kentucky Transportation Cabinet in the event that Happy Valley Road would need to be widened close to the park. Fortunately, the design firm was able to scale in the park without making concessions on the design should the KYTC need to use that area.
While not directly tied to the design firm, the committee did discuss the possibility of business sponsored amenities. Gaunce gave a couple of examples.
Parks and Rec. Director Eddie Furlong said that they had considered that in the past but had not specifically talked about it “this time around.”
Furlong added that it should be something that the committee should entertain the idea, which was taken positively by the other members.
Hoagland was amiable to the idea, but did point out that, “The key thing is having somebody to ask, and that’s not us, that needs to be somebody from here.”
Gaunce and Furlong both discussed the advantages to both the park and the hypothetical sponsors.
The committee also discussed updates to the ongoing development of Beaver Creek and Richardson Stadium, as well as discussion of upcoming programs.
The ‘Copter Hop’ Egg Hunt garnered the most discussion not just because it will be held this Saturday at Beaver Creek Park, because some safety concerns were raised.
“The kids will not be on the field when the helicopter drops the eggs,” Furlong said. “While the gates open at 1 p.m. they won’t start hunting the eggs until 1:30.”
Needless to say, but great things are here and on the horizon for the Parks and Rec. Department.
