City administrators are looking for the opinions of residents regarding the upgrading of Memorial Park. The park is located on the west side of State Road, between Akins Road and Royalton Road.
The City is in the midst of preparing a Master Improvement Plan for Memorial Park. City administrators have commissioned Cleveland-based Behnke Landscape Architecture for the project. Behnke is a “ leader in planning and designing award-winning outdoor places. As landscape architects and planners focused on improving the communities we touch, we specialize in Active Transportation, Athletics, Education, Institutions, and Parks,” according to their website. Behnke was involved in the creation of the North Royalton Schools Stadium and the Brecksville-Broadview Heights High School field. They also were instrumental in the Cleveland Lakefront Bikeway, and the Lake Metroparks Greenway Trail.
Currently, Memorial Park is the home of tennis, basketball and volleyball courts, a playground, a community garden, a skate park, a pavilion that overlooks a small lake and restroom facilities. It also has a walking trail and sports fields. Mayor Larry Antoskiewicz said that there are properties to the north and south of the park which have been added over the past few years, that will need to be incorporated into the overall plan. He also said he would like to see some sort of restroom facility on the bottom portion of the park, as the current restroom is at the top of the hill, which slopes from west to east. He added that “we have a great community garden, which just had a major expansion. I would like to spruce it up.” He also said that the skate park, which is almost twenty years old, would need revamping, if it stays. He said that the current location was originally considered temporary, so if it is something that will be included in the new plan, it might be placed elsewhere.
Antoskiewicz noted, “we’re asking what you want and what you don’t want.” These things can include upgrades, adding/replacing of amenities already included, or the removal of such. Residents are asked to comment through email to Tom Jordan at Tjordan@northroyalton.org. They can also be dropped off at the North Royalton Building Department, which is located at 11545 Royalton Road, near Abbey Road.
“We want to see what direction we want to go,” said Antoskiewicz. A design will then be formulated by Behnke based on the feedback the city receives. By spring, the design will then be presented for review. Antoskiewicz said he did not have a time frame to bring the entire update to fruition, as it would be based on the cost. He said that some of the smaller things could probably be done sooner and that grants would be sought to help fund the project. He did indicate that some of the projects could be funded through the City’s Recreation Capital Improvement Fund, or through the City’s Capital Improvement Fund. It also could be funded through the General Fund. “It’s a great park! We want to enhance it,” said Antoskiewicz.
In addition to the Memorial Park project, the City has also been improving the York Road fields with upgraded lighting and infrastructure. Antoskiewicz said he would like to see the batting cages moved, which are currently located closest to York Road. He also would like to see the building nearest the road, that had previously housed concession and restrooms, torn down, as the building is not utilized.
By GLORIA PLEVA KACIK
Contributing Writer