Part of a $5 million renovation to the city’s oldest park will include enhanced security and technology.
The city’s redevelopment commission on Tuesday approved spending about $41,000 on security cameras and related equipment that will be installed along Old City’s Park’s trails and in nearby parking lots, allowing for public safety monitoring between the Greenwood Public Library to the south and Main Street to the north.
Because the city is running all new electrical throughout the entire park, city staff decided to take that opportunity to also add security features, said Kevin Steinmetz, capital projects manager.
[sc:text-divider text-divider-title=”Story continues below gallery” ]Click here to purchase photos from this gallery
“Before, it either didn’t have it or it was very improvised,” Steinmetz said.
“We have done this with every new project, particularly where you’re going to have young people and events.”
The park, which is in the midst of a $5 million renovation, will feature a cube tower, a 20-foot climbing structure for kids, which Mayor Mark Myers touted during this year’s State of the City address, saying it will be the first in Indiana and one of only three in the country. The park will also include a promenade that will run alongside Pleasant Creek downtown, a rock climbing wall, a pedestrian bridge, urban porch swings and a bocce ball court, providing outdoor activities for both children and adults.
The redevelopment commission has committed up to $5.4 million for Old City Park. The city’s Stormwater Department also committed $300,000 for the project, which is expected to cost just shy of $5 million.
Any extra money will cover the cost of equipment that is needed, which was not included in the estimate. The city also wants to make sure it has additional money on hand for any contingencies, Steinmetz has said.
The city also made some changes to electrical designs to accommodate the costs associated with the added security.
“We were able to rearrange some of the lighting patterns on the hill closest to the playground,” Steinmetz said.
Those changes will save the city about $35,000, Steinmetz said.
