Published: April 18, 2008 10:30 am      

Holland Lake Park to close for redo

Crystal McCoy

cmccoy@weatherforddemocrat.com



Big changes are taking place in public parks across Weatherford. Here is a closer look at changes in the works and those to come.



Holland Lake Park

Following the Texas Junior Anglers event Saturday, Holland Lake Park, along with the through street, will close for major renovations.

Phase one of renovations includes the development of new ball fields, parking lots, restrooms and concessions. Phase two includes improvements to the lake.

The entire process is expected to take between nine and 12 months, according to Director of Parks and Recreation Kathy Mosby.

Additional improvements to the playground area and trail system are also in the plans. The two log cabins and the pavilion will remain at the park. There are no plans to make any changes at the Girl Scout camp.

“[When completed, the] park will be ADA accessible, which it currently is not,” Mosby said. “We’ve got a lot of rock out there and not a lot of walkway. There will be a nice path to loop through the main areas of the park. In addition to the current nature trails, we will also add in some hard scape trails as well.”

The fenced off drainage channel currently dividing the park into two sides will be removed during the renovation process. Mosby said the channel will be covered and the drainage redirected through the lake.

Another big change to the park will be the elimination of Holland Lake Drive as a through street around the park. Park patrons will still be able to enter the park by way of Santa Fe Drive or Clear Lake Road as in the past, but each entrance will feed into a dead-end parking lot.

“There will be no fear of motorists speeding or people cutting through the park,” Mosby said. “There will be a hiking trail where the road currently is. It’s going to be nice, quieter and safer without having vehicles going through there.”



Love Street Park

Work continues on Love Street Park. When the park celebrates its grand opening Friday, June 13, the park will include a spray ground feature along with other water amenities, a pond, playground equipment, a basketball court, open space for athletic practice and hike and a bike trail.

“It will be open just in time for the hot summer,” Mosby said.

Cherry Park

New changes to the public pool will also be completed just in time for summer swimmers. The pool house, bath house, ticket booth, storage and office are all undergoing improvements as part of the ongoing renovations at Cherry Park.

Mosby said the pool will be ready for opening day Saturday, May 24.

“Next year we will finish up that park on the southwest corner where the gazebo is,” Mosby said. “The hike and bike trail will loop around that portion, we will add parking and improve the Cherry Park Center.



Marshall and Cartwright parks

Marshall Park, a community park on the corner of Fifth and Elms streets, is on the docket for improvements next year.

A master plan is in the works for Cartwright Park, the city’s largest park acreage wise.

Mosby said there is no money in the budget to actually make changes to the 40 undeveloped acres at the park at this time, but there is money available to create a master plan for the area.

In total, Weatherford has nine public parks totaling in at more than 400 acres.

“We are doing good for our size,” Mosby said about park space in town. “As we get bigger we’d like to acquire new park land and open space, but right now we have a good ratio.”

For more information on what Weatherford parks offer and their locations, visit weatherfordparks.com.