Crews making improvements at Veterans Park ahead of arts festival

Park getting  restroom and concession upgrades, thanks to funds from arts council.

Crews are working in Veterans Park to prepare for construction of a second restroom and concessions facility. The park will remain open to the public while crews complete the final stage of improvements in time for Summer Arts Festival 2010. Staff photo by Marshall Gorby

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By Megan Gildow, Staff Writer Updated 11:26 PM Monday, November 23, 2009

SPRINGFIELD — Construction crews will be working at Veterans Park through the spring to finish improvements in time for 2010’s Summer Arts Festival.

National Trail Parks and Recreation District is overseeing the improvements at the park, but the funding came from the Springfield Arts Council’s efforts, said National Trail Chief Executive Officer Tim Smith.

“The park is still available for use by folks except where the construction is roped off,” Smith said.

The SAC wanted to upgrade the facilities at the park where it has held the Summer Arts Festival for more than 40 years, said Bill Schwartz, development director.

“This coming summer will be our 44th festival, and up until we made these improvements we were doing them under pretty primitive facilities,” he said. “Upgrading the standards of the facilities not only gives us better audience amenities, it also gives us better technical support, which allows us to bring in bigger acts.”

The improvements in the third phase include landscaping and a second facility for restrooms and concessions to mirror one already in the park. The first and second phases included a restroom and concession stand in the east side of the park and upgrades to the stage, control building and stage area.

“Now there’s very few acts we couldn’t bring in,” Schwartz said.

The improvements will be finished in late April or early May if the weather cooperates, Smith said.

Contact this reporter at (937) 328-0373 or mgildow@coxohio.com.

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It is worth noting that the contractors awarded the job are locally owned, creating a much needed benefit to our local economy.

pass it forward
4:34 PM, 11/24/2009

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In general the improvements to the park have been done in a very thoughtful manner. Few communities have a facility like this to host a summers worth of free entertainment. Regrettably, The Arts Council and the Parks District feel the need to cut down beautiful trees that were there long before the stage was. There is a big ugly stump there now from a tree that was cut down when nobody was looking. Lets not forget, it is still a park for many types of activities and parks need trees.

Mr. Citizen
1:32 PM, 11/24/2009

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THANKS TO YOU ALL FOR LEADING ME TO VETERANS PARK. I HAVE BEEN THERE MANY TIMES BUT I WAS AT CLIFF PARK. I MUST LISTEN TO MY LEADERS MORE OFTEN.

LARRY
12:15 PM, 11/24/2009

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Boy, I'd sure like to complain about somthing here, but this is one of the few things that Springfield has going for it and the SAC does it well. . If Timing Off & Disappointed didn't understand the article and where the money comes from, then there's no sence in complaining about them either. Guess I'll complain about having nothing to complain about.

Dennis
12:13 PM, 11/24/2009

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Timing off is way off base here. The SAC is not in the business of providing food & shelter for the citizens of Springfield. They are here to provide top rate entertainment for our enjoyment. If you want free handouts, go to charities that offer that! Thanks SAC for all you do for Clark County.

mrconservative1
11:57 AM, 11/24/2009

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