Improvements will beautify, connect McGregor parks
McGregor’s Artesian Park is temporarily closed while a series of improvements get underway. Plans include new decorative ornamental fence in place of the existing chain link fence, new ornamental park benches and picnic tables and landscape improvements. Broken concrete in the park’s interior has been removed. (Photos by Audrey Posten)
Among the park projects is connecting Artesian Park to Pocket Park, behind the McGregor Public Library, by going over the storm sewer.
By Audrey Posten | Times-Register
A series of improvements to beautify and connect McGregor’s Artesian and Pocket parks is underway.
Artesian Park, located behind the McGregor Public Library at Fourth and Ann streets, was temporarily closed on April 24. Yellow safety fence now bars access while upgrades begin.
According to McGregor Deputy City Clerk and Economic Development Lead Brandi Crozier, improvements will include new decorative ornamental fence in place of the existing chain link fence, new ornamental park benches and picnic tables and landscape improvements.
The work started as a memorial project for the late Joanne Collins-Stewart, a long-time resident who raised her family near Artesian Park.
“That’s why her family is so passionate about honoring her legacy with this project,” Crozier said. Landscaping “will feature perennials that were some of Joanne’s favorites. She was a master gardener, so that’s a nice little nod to that.”
Additionally, a new park sign will go in, and the city and park board decided to remove broken concrete in the park’s interior.
“In some places, the sidewalk will be replaced and, in other places, it will be turned into green space. A playground border similar to what’s at Turner Park will surround the large playground structures, which will also have fresh mulch added to them,” Crozier shared.
New shoots from the existing lilac bush, which has some interior rot, will be collected to create a hedgerow of lilac bushes on the eastern perimeter of the park.
“Probably the most exciting element to this park project is the connectivity that will be implemented behind the library where another improvement project is set to occur,” said Crozier. “The library is building a pavilion where a deck used to be and that pavilion will have a staircase over the storm sewer that leads into the park, as well as some work to include an ADA sidewalk that leads to the backside of Pocket Park.”
Crozier noted most of the Artesian Park project is funded by contributions to the Joanne Collins-Stewart memorial. The Friends of the Library are supporting the project behind the library, while the project at Pocket Park, next to the library on Main Street, is funded largely by the Alexander McGregor Endowment (AME) committee.
“They’re funding the removal of the pea gravel and bringing in fill to create a grassy park surface this year, and we’ll be looking to make additional improvements in the future,” Crozier said. “The AME group is funding ornamental fencing around that park as well.”
Crozier is hopeful the bulk of the work in the parks will be underway by Memorial Day weekend.
“That being said, the parks may be closed a little longer as we try to get some grass seed growing. All of that will be weather dependent,” she added.
McGregor is lucky to be afforded the opportunity to do these projects thanks to generous donors, according to Crozier. They weren’t previously on the city’s radar.
“They’re not on an existing plan, but because funding became available, the council went ahead and approved them to happen,” she said. “It will really clean up this area of town and be a nice nod to our historical district, and may also serve as kind of a visual expansion to our downtown district once the elements are in place.”
Crozier believes the work can be a catalyst for more progress in the community. With a desire for continuity, some elements—like the decorative fencing and benches—can be implemented throughout McGregor, particularly the downtown district.
“The benches we’re using in Artesian Park are the same benches that are currently down on the riverfront and in Triangle Park. We hope to also create a program for other donors to donate toward benches in our downtown district so we can pull that same aesthetic through the downtown,” Crozier said.
Along with the current work in Artesian and Pocket parks, trees were recently planted at Determination Park for Arbor Day. A new restroom and concession stand building is now complete at Turner Park, as part of ongoing improvements. Planning is also underway for upgrades to Triangle Park.
“I think every park has something going on in it,” Crozier quipped.
