Roberts Park sketches were released 10 years ago. What's happened since then?
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EVANSVILLE — Sketches of Roberts Park were first released to the public 10 years ago this month.
Little from those sketches can now be seen in person, as the land for the park still sits undeveloped.
The city is also on its second master plan for the area, with major projects first included in the plans for Roberts Park cast aside to other locations.
The Courier & Press asked the city controller's office how much is currently spent on maintaining the site where it hopes Roberts Park will exist in the future.
Controller Russ Lloyd said that is not something the city knows.
"The City Parks Maintenance Department does not break down costs incurred for maintenance of specific parks to my knowledge," he said.
Here's how the city ended up here.
2012
June
In June of 2012, Mayor Lloyd Winnecke announced the city would tear down Roberts Stadium instead of turning it into an indoor pool
That 37 acres would be used to add green space and recreational opportunities to the city. Ideas first included child and adult outdoor fitness, a skate park and dog park.
Estimated cost for the project would be between $6 and $8 million.
August
A deadline for razing Roberts Stadium was set for May 1. The demolition would include taking down the building, as well as refilling the site for its future park.
September
Cost of demolition begins to make some members of city council unsure about the decision to keep the land for a park.
“I understand the people who want green space, but the business side of me says this is prime real estate," then-Fourth-Ward councilor Connie Robinson said.
Then-city councilor John Friend voiced concern over the city's inability to maintain its current parks, a sentiment which would continue in council discussion of Roberts Park for years to come.
November
The Board of Park Commissioners selects Klenck Co. to complete demolition for $958,750.
A $150,000 planning grant from the Welborn Baptist Foundation is given to help with planning and design of Roberts Park.
2013
May
The city announces a sketch of the park will be available by June.
July
Early in July members of city council continue to have concerns over the total cost of Roberts Park.
The city hopes the first phase of the project will be underway in 2014.
The first sketches are revealed in late July, with plans for a waterfall, splash pad, skate park and dog park all included.
Officials said development of the park would be a multi-year endeavor, with connectivity from Wesselman Park, Roberts Park and the State Hospital Park grounds all a part of the process.
August
Winnecke submits a budget to the city council for consideration that includes a request for $1.5 million in casino funds for Roberts Park. The money would go toward initial infrastructure work.
October
The condition of city parks enters the conversation again as city councilors consider approving the request for Roberts Park money.
Ultimately, the city council would vote 7-2 to remove the $1.5 million from the budget and request a comprehensive plan be completed for all parks.
“There’s a whole lot of room between zero and $1.5 million,” then parks board president Jay Ritter said. “I think we need to have some sort of commitment to get the public to buy in.”
2014
August
Winnecke appeared once again before council during summer budget sessions to request $1.5 million for Roberts Park development.
September
The recommendation from city council would once again be for the $1.5 million to be removed from the budget.
November
The budget finally passes, but Roberts Park funding has been removed again.
2019
November
As the city prepares for an election, Roberts Park is an objective reason for Winnecke to support fellow Republicans in their runs for city council.
With his attempts to fund the project twice knocked down by a majority Democratic City Council who felt uneasy about its construction and maintenance costs when other parks struggled with basic maintenance.
Earlier designs called for many amenities, including connectivity via a pedestrian bridge over the Lloyd Expressway at Vann Avenue. The $2.2 million bridge project linked the state hospital grounds to the proposed Roberts Park site. Eighty percent of the cash came from the federal government.
2021
October
While that 2019 election season didn't lead to a majority Republican city council, it did lead to a more agreeable council when it came to Roberts Park.
During the 2021 budget sessions, Winnecke came back again to ask for an initial $1 million in funding for Roberts Park.
There were arguments about the quality of city parks, maintenance concerns - all déjà vu for anyone following since 2012 − but ultimately, Winnecke got his funding.
The proposed $1 million for Roberts Park passed the council 6-3.
“This has been going on for some years,” council president Zac Heronemus said. “This is a great opportunity for us as a council to work alongside the administration more proactively than reactively as what I feel we are right now. Especially given the opportunity we have, this blessing with have, in this once-in-a-lifetime opportunity with these (American Rescue Plan) dollars to right some wrongs that you see and other councilors see all across the board.”
2022
June
The Evansville Board of Park Commissioners approved an agreement with Hafer Associates to update the 2013 conceptual design for Roberts Park, which included both a skatepark and dog park. Both projects are now planned for other areas of the city.
Sunset Skatepark is coming to the Evansville Riverfront with a groundbreaking set for this summer. Woodmere Dog Park, a privately funded venture, is planned for a three- acre spot on the State Hospital Grounds.
The update to the master plan would cost $27,500.
Deputy Mayor Steve Schaefer said along with the budgeted $1 million from the city, a private donor also pledged an additional $1 million. The city just needs a final design, Schaefer said.
2023
January
The new vision for Roberts Park is unveiled from the Parks and Recreation Department.
Plans include a festival space in the area where Roberts Stadium stood for more than 50 years. The area will be a majority green space with a stage proposed in the area. The designated parking will be adjacent to the EVSC soccer fields and have space for 480 cars.
According to plan, the festival grounds will cover 10 acres. There will also be a memorial to Roberts Stadium in that area.
The stage will have a green room next to it, as well as concessions and restrooms.
Roberts Lake will be located between the Lloyd Expressway and the festival grounds. It will include a boardwalk and two new shelters on the east and west sides of the lake.
June
The Board of Park Commissioners voted unanimously to approve a new five-year master plan for Evansville's parks.
This includes the vision for Roberts Park and recommendations on its implementation.
The master plan recommends:
Make the greenway connections identified in the Wesselman/Roberts Master Plan.
Phase in master plan recommendations including festival grounds, lake, picnic areas, restrooms, reforestation, and shelters as funding allows.
Re-brand as “Roberts Festival Grounds at Wesselman Park."
It recommends as a part of the rebrand that the property be considered part of Wesselman Park.
This article originally appeared on Evansville Courier & Press: Roberts Park: What's happened since the stadium came down
