Milford park project includes splash pad

Posted

The City of Milford is readying to make a splash with improvements to the city park.

The Milford City Council at its last meeting approved a resolution to allow project engineer JEO pursue financial assistance through the Nebraska Game and Parks Land and Water Conservation Fund and to open a checking account with Jones Bank for the purpose of the Uptown Park Revitalization Project.

The main aspect of the park improvements would be a splashpad. New and rerouted sidewalks, trees and other logistical improvements to the park are included as well.

“We have a concept in place of revitalizing the uptown city park with a splashpad, putting in new sidewalks and putting in more decorative trees,” said Jeanne Hoggins.

Milford mayor Patrick Kelley said the design for the project is just concept for now but expects it to be in full swing shortly.

“We want to start construction as soon as JEO finalizes the engineering of the design phase,” he said.

Funding for the project, Kelley said, will come from a number of areas. He said the effort has already received a “large donation” and the city has applied for Community Betterment Funds. He said a small percentage of tax dollars will also likely be used and fundraising would be a major part of collecting funds as well.

Kelley added if the effort receives funding from the Nebraska Game and Parks Land and Water Conservation Fund, those dollars will replenish money spent on the project.

Hoggins said the Milford parks and recreation board is currently planning fundraising projects and seeking donations.

“Moving forward, we'll see what we get with our grant applications and fundraising efforts from the community,” she said.

Hoggins said if the design, bidding and fundraising phases of the project continue as planned, construction could start by the spring of 2022.

“We're hoping to get started early spring,” she said. “Hopefully the project is taking off through the summer.”

Planning for the project is not yet over, Kelley said, and he encourages the community to chip in ideas as a final vision for the park comes together. By soliciting citizen input, he said the project will more accurately reflect the needs and wants of the community.

“Our next big thing would be to get more communication out to the public with a final design,” he said. “We've done a lot of things through public meetings, but we don't see a lot of foot traffic. We want to make sure this is a project the community is fully aware of as we get going so they know what's happening and what it's going to look like.

We hope people get involved and we see some interaction completing the final design from people if they have any thoughts or ideas.”

Kelley said planning for the project has been an exciting process, as it adds to other areas of growth underway in Milford, including a new housing subdivision and a large-scale water main improvement project.

“We're just trying to spruce up our community to bring some spaces into the current expectations of what the community should expect within their community,” he said.