News

Park opening planned for February

Published: Thursday, November 29, 2007 at 3:30 a.m.
Last Modified: Wednesday, November 28, 2007 at 11:48 p.m.

florence - River Heritage Park, the city's newest park which includes a playground area, a pavilion, a festival lawn and an interactive fountain, will soon open.


Click to enlarge
Smoothing out the rubberized surface, Eduardo Moya, of Surface America, helps finish the playground at the River Heritage area next to the Marriott Conference Center in Florence.
Matt McKean/TimesDaily

As the $6.2 million park starts to look less like a construction site and more like fun for the family, the public will have to be patient until the park's opening, which is planned for February.

"We're trying to keep the general public off the property until we can turn it over to the city," construction superintendent Kevin Weeks said. "Maybe they'll give us another few weeks and then they can have it."

Until then, residents and visitors can ogle, at a distance, the playground that includes climbing areas shaped like a locomotive, a giant wave, a steamboat paddle wheel and a castle.

The play area is surrounded by a porous rubber surface in shades of aqua that will protect the little ones from falls.

People also can view the 4,000 square foot pavilion that officials are negotiating terms for how it may be rented in the future for wedding receptions, corporate picnics and family reunions.

Visitors also can see the 30-foot light towers of the circular interactive fountain, which is planned to have a five-story maximum water spout, highest in the center, that will be coordinated with lights and music, according to Weeks.

Testing on the fountain, about a third of the size of a football field, will begin mid-December, said Fred Boughner, park superintendent.

Its operation, however, will be far from clicking an "on" button. Boughner said training on how to operate the fountain takes 40 hours and that several staff members will be trained.

"I don't know much about that fountain and it's kind of intimidating," Boughner said. "It'll be a showcase."

That hope is shared by Florence Lauderdale tourism.

"Having a park like this will be another tool to attracting people to the Marriott or the conference center," said Alison Stanfield, assistant tourism director.

"This area has just recently been able to break into the conference and meeting area," said Stanfield. "This is one more reason why they should choose to have their meetings and conventions here."

The River Heritage Park could act like potential candy to the children of conference attendees, candy that includes red climbing bars, blue slides and plenty of climbing pegs.

But the park won't be limited to the playground. "A lot of people will be able to use the park for more than a day at the playground," Stanfield said.

She said she hopes that families might begin to plan their reunions in the park.

The whole river heritage project started as a vision of former city planner Barry Broach in the 1980s, said current city planner Melissa Bailey. Broach died in January 2005.

The Florence Harbor was the first part of that vision, the Patton Island overlook was second and now the River Heritage park makes up the third part.

The 70-acre park, permanently leased to the city from the Tennessee Valley Authority, has views of Wilson Dam, the Shoals Marriott Hotel and Spa, the conference center and the Renaissance Tower.

Eventually, a river walk will extend from McFarland Park to the west to River Heritage Park to the east.

"It appears that the park is finished when you drive by, but it isn't done yet, landscaping and the fountain needs to be finished," Bailey said.

"There are a lot of folks that wish that Barry could see it," Bailey said. "But he probably has a better view than any of us."

Trevor Stokes can be reached at 740-5728 or trevor.stokes@timesdaily.com


Comments

    Post a comment | View all comments on this topic.
  1. _Joy_ says...
    November 29, 2007 9:15:52 am

    RE: http://www.timesdaily.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20.../NEWS/711290340/1011

    "River Heritage Park, the city's newest park which includes a playground area, a pavilion, a festival lawn and an interactive fountain, will soon open."This sounds great, but I look forward to this part the most...

    "Eventually, a river walk will extend from McFarland Park to the west to River Heritage Park to the east."

    Report this post

  2. _Joy_ says...
    November 29, 2007 10:15:42 am

    I was wondering why there was no mention of the amphitheater in the above article regarding River Heritage Park. So I searched the archives to find it and found that the "meadow-style" amphitheater has been taken out of the plans. I have to tell you that this greatly disappoints me. To me, it was one of the best ideas connected to this project. Outdoor concerts and plays by the river would have been great. I wonder why is was eliminated. Anybody know?

    From:
    http://www.timesdaily.com/article/20060812/NEWS/608120316
    "An amphitheater was also included in early designs but was eliminated early in the process, and there are no plans to bring that element back."

    Report this post

  3. gmail.com says...
    November 29, 2007 11:23:24 am

    Although this article failed to mention it, the meadow amphitheatre is in fact to the west of the playground.

    Report this post

  4. James Holden says...
    November 29, 2007 12:51:04 pm

    are there going to be "no skateboarding, no biking, no bothering the older/more important people with your "fun"" signs and rules?

    Report this post

  5. Smoothcat says...
    November 29, 2007 1:14:43 pm

    If I remember correctly (not remember where I heard this from, months back), the amphitheater WAS left in the plans. It was reduced in size, however. I think the original plans called for something like 5000 permanent seats, but now there is only the "meadow" to serve that purpose. I'm not even sure if there's a permanent stage. It's too bad. As a Jimmy Buffett fan, somebody who plays a lot of these style venues, I would love to see one somewhere in the Shoals. With his connections to the area, it wouldn't be impossible to think he might play here if we had one. I'm sure it could also get a lot of use around Handy Festival time.As for the long-rumored River Walk... does anybody else besides me have the feeling it will never happen? I hate to be negative, because I really would like to see it. I just think there are a lot of things working against it. How safe would it be? It seems parts of it could be isolated. Would it really be that "scenic", running the canal its entire length and going through the port area? How grandiose are we talking here? If it's a simple jogging/biking trail it could be good, but anything more and I fear it would be a lot of wasted money.

    Still, I'm excited about this park. Looks like it will be a good addition to the convention area.

    Report this post

  6. _Joy_ says...
    November 29, 2007 9:04:10 pm

    Thanks for the info, guys. I'll have to go have a look-see, from a distance as requested of course.

    Report this post

  7. FirenzeVeritas says...
    November 30, 2007 5:35:15 am

    I totally agree, Joy. I can't wait until the walkway is completed. It will be another jewel in the crown, and I certainly plan to make use of it.

    Report this post

  8. falcon1234 says...
    November 30, 2007 5:39:42 am

    I certainly hope so.

    Report this post