Answer Man: When will park, playground next to Laurel Park Town Hall open?
LAUREL PARK - Today’s question comes from a reader concerned about the park located across the street from Laurel Park Town Hall. Got a question for Answer Man? Email News Editor Dean Hensley at dhensley@gannett.com and your question could appear in an upcoming column.
Question: I haven't seen an update on the park across from Laurel Park City Hall. It has been closed all summer. I saw they were doing some creek bed improvements in the spring, but it has been closed with no action going on there for months. What is going on?
Answer: To find out what the most current update, the Times-News spoke with Laurel Park Town Manager Alex Carmichael, who said the main park, which is called Laurel Green, already had a "soft" opening on the last weekend of October. The main park's walking trail is now open to the public, but the playground in the center is still closed with signs saying "Closed until further notice."
"The contract states that (the playground) will be complete in the next 45 days," Carmichael said.
That would mean the playground should be open by mid-December.
Carmichael said although the main trail through the park is open, it will be common for visitors to see workers near the stream and playground.
"Laurel Green Park is lucky to have a beautiful stream running alongside the property. This waterway has needed maintenance to stabilize creek erosion, manage stormwater, and improve water quality," he said.
The Town of Laurel Park was awarded a grant to enhance and improve the stream, promote public access to the creek and integrate the natural waterway into its urban surroundings.
"Many thanks to our champions, such as Senator Tim Moffitt, and our funders at North Carolina Department of Public Safety and the North Carolina Land and Water Fund for supporting over $500,000 of necessary improvements that benefit the community," Carmichael said.
Construction began in May by demolishing the previous pond, grading and rebuilding along the creek. The enhancements include dozens of new trees, hundreds of shrubs, native grasses and more.
"Visitors to the park will see the biggest changes: creek access and wetlands. Four floodplain activation areas make these possible," Carmichael said.
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Little Laurel Green Playground has also undergone grading, planting of grass, improvements to the sandbox area and is still undergoing repairs at the playground's main attraction — the castle.
"The main construction is complete with a final focus on plantings and trails and final touches at the playground. When complete, the project will include educational signs explaining aspects of the ecosystem that have been restored," Carmichael said.
He said a grand reopening will be scheduled at a time and date yet to be determined.
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Dean Hensley is the news editor for the Hendersonville Times-News. Email him with tips, questions and comments at DHensley@gannett.com. Please help support this kind of local journalism with a subscription to the Hendersonville Times-News.
This article originally appeared on Hendersonville Times-News: Answer Man: When will park, playground next to Laurel Park Town Hall open?
