Sunset Park designs gain positive feedback at open house

More than 30 people came out to view the plans for the Sunset Park redesign during an open house on Wednesday. Feedback from the open house was overwhelmingly positive according to members of the park board at the meeting following the event.

“We had a really good turn out,” Newton Public Works Director Jody Rhone said. “Everyone that I talked with was extremely positive, they really like it.”

Rhone said the most popular proposal is the walking trail. The idea of adding a feature for residents who live in the area to use was well received.

The parking lot expansion also received high marks. Additional spaces will open up options for usage of the park and park shelter for larger groups of people who don’t live adjacent to the park.

A design option brought forth by HBK of a paver patio terrace near the shelter received a lot of positive feedback including a suggestion to add a fire ring to be used by those at the shelter and during the winter months for weather relief for those sledding.

“Park Centre residents are invested in their health and well-being,” Park Centre Marketing Director Margot Voshell said. “They are looking forward to a park that offers options for them to continue to live well.”

Other ideas that gained interest were stationed exercise equipment throughout the trail system, the lighting of the trail and new playground equipment. Additional suggestions for the park include a pit toilet to be used year round, a handicapped playground where grandchildren and grandparents could play together and bench and sculpture pads where future pieces could be placed.

Funding the project was discussed during the park board meeting with a phased approach popular to get the project started.

“People would really like to see the project move forward and several people mentioned fundraising, donations or phasing the project,” Rhone said. “People realize it will take money, and they would really like to see it happen.”

Board chair Melanie Humphrey was encouraged by the progress but emphasized the need for a timeline to get the project completed.

“We have to make sure when we start we have an end date,” Humphrey said. “We can’t drag this out forever.”

The next step for the project will be taking the comments received to HBK Engineering to begin work on the final design for the park. Rhone said he expects to get a cost estimate for the project this winter.

Contact Jamee A. Pierson at 641-792-3121 ext. 6534 or jpierson@newtondailynews.com