GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. - It's play time for a Southwest Grand Rapids neighborhood after some major renovations to their local park, the second of eight parks being fixed up by the city.
The Westown Commons Park celebrated a grand re-opening Thursday morning. Funding passed by voters in 2013 paved the way for the improvements to the park located off Watson St. SW. This project cost about $400,000. It was renovated with voter approved millage dollars, with a portion of property taxes donated specifically to Parks and Recreation.
New park amenities include: new concrete sidewalks, benches, a drinking fountain, picnic shelter and a brand new skate park specifically requested by the neighborhood to replace an old wading pool that went unused for years.
"We’re always trying to be observant of that and work with the local police department, and when we do run into issues we’ve got a strong force here in the neighborhood and an active neighborhood as well," said Marquardt. "And those voices are important to quiet any undesirable activity we have in the park system."
The park's grand re-opening continues this summer's major renovations; Cherry Park opened July 31st and improvements to Fuller, Highland, Garfield, Lincoln, Roosevelt and Wilcox parks are expected to be complete within the next two weeks.
