Chesterfield Approves $361,000 in Improvements for City Parks

Parks in the city of Chesterfield are set to receive a raft of improvements this spring after the city council approved approximately $361,000 in upgrades last week.

The funds will pay for a list of projects at the Chesterfield Valley Athletic Complex, Chesterfield Central Park and the city’s amphitheater:

• Artistic signage at the two main entrances to the amphitheater ($30,000)
• Construction of a VIP deck at the amphitheater ($35,000)
• A new bridge over the pond at Central Park ($75,000)
• Signage at the five entry locations to the CVAC ($13,000)
• Softscape enhancements, such as raised flower beds and increased plantings, at the amphitheater ($54,000)
• Bleachers over the stands at the F Quad in the CVAC ($154,000)

Parks Director Tom McCarthy said he was happy to receive the “thumbs up” from the city council to get started.

“It’s great. These are things that we have wanted to do for a long time,” he said.

One of the larger expenditures, the $75,000 bridge is an item that McCarthy is particularly glad to see approved. It will be constructed over the spillway at the northern edge of the park, completing a loop around the pond, and likely be finished in the fall.

“You wouldn’t believe how many calls I get from people saying, ‘Have they ever thought about putting in another bridge?’” he said.

The money would be drawn from the parks department reserve fund, which was projected to have a balance of around $2.4 million at the end of 2012. Prior to the approving the expenditures at the Feb. 20 meeting, councilman Matt Segel noted that this was in accordance a long-standing policy of the city to use reserve funds for such capital expenses.

Amping Up the Amphitheater

The signs at the amphitheater will “incorporate the roof lines” of the facility and contain the parks department logo and is aimed at increasing the visibility of the facility from the road, McCarthy said.

The VIP deck will be installed just west of the concession stand and is being added with several goals in mind. McCarthy said it will add more seating while giving the city or event organizers the flexibility to offer VIP passes to sponsors or other guests.

Both these projects are expected to be completed by May 11, in time for the amphitheater’s first event of the year. McCarthy said some of the softscape beautifications will get down in the spring, while others may wait until the fall, and are designed to add some “wow factor” to the facility.

The enhancements at the amphitheater are part of a larger push by the city to promote the facility this year, including the first city-sponsored ticketed event. Check back with Chesterfield Patch next week for a further exploration of the city’s plan and why the move is drawing resistance from at least once council member.