The City of North Royalton is inviting residents to view boards that show potential improvements to Memorial Park. The Open House will take place on Monday, February 22, from 6 to 8 p.m. in City Hall’s Community Room. COVID restrictions will be in place. City administrators are looking for the opinions of residents regarding the proposed options.
The North Royalton Recreation Board recently received a Summary of Preliminary Improvement Options for the upgrading of Memorial Park by Cleveland-based Behnke Landscape Architecture.  The price tag for what is initially proposed is between $2.9 million and $5.8 million in costs.  The firm was commissioned last fall to put together a study after receiving input from residents.  Memorial Park sits on about thirty-one acres,  located on the west side of State Road, between North Akins Road and Royalton Road.
The scope of the project included the collecting of existing conditions, data and previous plans, including the reviewing of any applicable agreements with the North Royalton Board of Education, such as those concerning the ball fields and tennis courts on the property. It also included input from various groups and individuals throughout the city. The project will conclude with a final master plan of Memorial Park, including construction cost estimates, an input summary, site plans and potential funding sources.
Behnke has received some public input from about 60 responses through December. Some of the responses were related to a dog park, exercise stations, multi-purpose trails and paths, pickleball courts, added tables and grills, more shade in the playground area, a community pool, a splash pad, skate park improvements, tennis court improvements and rest rooms in the lower portion of the park.
Preliminary recommendations for the area fronting State Road include screening the community garden from the roadway, with consideration of eventually moving it to the section north of City Hall; adding a dog park and all-purpose trail, enhancing the entrance and adding trees and subtle mounding for a park-like atmosphere. For the area, north of City Hall, some possible uses can be an expanded community garden, adult fitness zone, a small shelter, new vehicle entrance or expanded parking. The skate park can be upgraded, demolished and reconstructed, or removed. The pavilion near the pond can be upgraded, adding restrooms to the pavilion or nearby, or replaced. Picnic tables and grills close to parking could be added. Repair to the parking lots and possibly the bridge could be done, or removing the bridge and add a causeway, with the construction of a covered stage with movie screen. The area west and south of the pond could be naturalized, with a meadow and a walking park added. The play area could be enhanced with more shade trees and picnic tables, grills, water and shade structures. The shelter at the top of the hill could be upgraded or replaced.
A more complete listing of options will be displayed at the Open House. Community Development Director Tom Jordan notes that representatives from Behnke will be at the Open House to converse with residents. For those who cannot come to the Open House, the City will post the boards on the City website, www.northroyalton.org. City administrators are also inviting comment via email to Tom Jordan at Tjordan@northroyalton.org. or through Facebook, which are then forwarded to the consultant. Mayor Larry 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.
The park plan is expected to be completed this spring, said Jordan. Then it will be referred to Council for their input. “We want to implement aspects of the plan as soon as possible,” said Jordan. “We probably will move immediately to see if they will be funded through grants.
Some of the large ticket items, we will never get any grant for, so we will have to consider issuing bonds for some of this work.” Jordan noted that the city has already received a State Capital Grant in the amount of $100,000 for the amphitheater. “At the minimum, I want to get some things started this year,” said Antoskiewicz. “We’ll see what Council wants.”
By GLORIA PLEVA KACIK
Contributing Writer