by TaLeiza Calloway
news@thenewsleaders.com
A gazebo. Benches. A rock garden. Trees.
Those are just some of the suggestions that sprouted for potential improvements to Cloverdale Park. Another idea city officials weighed was the addition of a community garden, but they determined the location was not the right size and a bit too remote from the neighborhood park, some members said.
Suggestions did not stop there, though. Park Board members voted April 23 to approach Scenic Specialties to come up with a design for the park. Park Board member Marguerite Fogarty volunteered to work on that effort.
“It’s such a great space,” Fogarty said of the park located near 8th Avenue SE and Able Street E in town.
The April 23 meeting of the St. Joseph Park Board started with a tour of Cloverdale Park and then resumed at St. Joseph City Hall. As possible park amenities were discussed, council member and park board liaison Bob Loso encouraged members to think of the demographics of the neighborhood because a mainly older population lives near the park.
City officials also voted to budget about $25,000 for improvements to the park for 2013. While this money was initially going to be allocated this year, board members decided to use that $25,000 to complete the third phase of planned improvements to Northland Park. Board member Lonnie Abbott advocated for the move. Improvements include a trail extension to the playground area and benches.
“It’s fair,” Park Board Chair John Anderson said. “By the time we get a plan together it’ll be too late (to doing anything to Cloverdale this summer).”
In addition to park improvements, officials also pondered the hosting of a community wellness event to highlight the city’s parks while bringing people together. Details are still being finalized but the tentative time frame is mid-August.
