Construction on a new Blair park, including a splash pad, could begin as early as this spring as a fundraising effort gets under way.
Generations Park, which is to be located in the green space just north of the Blair Public Library and Technology Center in the Deerfield subdivision, will include a splash pad, playground equipment, pickleball courts, half-court basketball, bocce ball, horse shoe pits, green space, shelters and restrooms.
The park will also tie into the city's existing trail system.
“There are no parks on this portion. With Deerfield growing, with other entities up here by Dana growing, it's an easy walk from there,” said Rick Paulsen, who heads the fundraising committee made up of community volunteers and city council members who are working jointly with city staff.
Assistant City Administrator Aaron Barrow said the committee is seeking approximately $500,000 in donations, while the city is applying for state grants through the Nebraska Game and Parks and other private foundations for roughly the same amount of funds.
Video of the plans for the park will be on display at the library with a QR Code residents can scan for more information and a link to donate. A Facebook page also is planned.
Paulsen said the committee would like to make a big push for donations through Washington County Gives, a one-day fundraising event for area nonprofits, later this year.
Donations can also be given now through the Washington County Community Foundation.
“If we can secure those funds early on, I think that we could see some actual physical movement on this project in the spring,” Barrow said.
Barrow confirmed the project has received a substantial donation to help spur donations.
The park will be geared toward multi-generations of families.
“Where it's covering all generations,” Paulsen said. “The old folks can come with their young kids and play. They could play pickleball, bocce ball, sit under the shade of a tree and read a book, whatever they want to do. We just thought that was an aply name.”
The land just north of the library was ideal for a new park, Barrow said.
“The city owns the property already,” he said. “It's already been graded. There is a storm water management plan already in place with a retention pond that could end up being a water feature.”
That area of the city is also lacking a park.
“We did the parks plan in 2015 and this is one area that you could see on all of the projections that there were no city parks that serviced this part of town,” said CJ Heaton, code enforcement officer and facilities director.
The park will also included a dedicated parking lot, which will alleviate any concerns on parking issues in the neighborhood.
“We do understand that there are some concerns about the one way in, one way out of this neighborhood. I do think over time as it develops that that will correct itself,” Barrow said. “But with the parking we have planned for this, we really don't anticipate that it's going to be a problem.”
Barrow stressed that the new splash pad will not replace the Blair Municipal Pool. In fact, a splash pad could be added to the pool in the future.
“We're not abandoning the pool,” he said. “We want to maintain the pool. We would love to improve the pool.”
