A groundbreaking for Veterans Memorial Park will take place 11 a.m. July 25 at 1121 Houk Road, the city recently announced.
The groundbreaking comes on the heels of City Council approving additional funding for the park at its meeting on July 6. The amount, $350,000, was needed, city officials said, because “the original estimate was flawed and the construction industry is flooded with private and public projects so construction companies can demand a higher price on the work they perform.”
The total cost for the project is $2,200,000, which was allocated from voter-approved recreation levy funds.
Once completed, the park would include: A “spray and play” splash pad, restrooms, picnic shelter, three-season shelter, sunken amphitheater, play structure, grass mound with a multi-person slide, concessions, storage and mechanical room, and flexible green space. The playground equipment and splash pad are dinosaur-themed.
City officials have said the park will be unique in that it is “all-inclusive” — accessible to all children.
“Some communities perhaps have an all-inclusive play toy here or there, but the whole park, we made that commitment from the start,” said council member Lisa Keller, who has worked on the park while serving on the city’s recreation levy subcommittee.
The park is expected to be open on Memorial Day in 2016. It will be near the Delaware Community Center YMCA, Ohio Army National Guard Training Center, and a proposed Veterans Memorial Plaza.
