City seeks residents' proposals for new park's name

Local school children came up with a number of proposals to name the city's new 18.5-acre, $4.3 million park, but the City Council has decided to expand its solicitation of name suggestions.

The City Council approved a suggestion in August that area students name the park, which was funded through a state grant and is still under the construction.

The plan was for students to submit a name to their school and then have the school decide on its selection. Those choices were submitted to the council for the final decision on Tuesday.

But a final decision was not made.

The names submitted included Bud Gott Community Park from Woodson Elementary School; The Bud Gott Memorial Park from Maywood Middle School; The Great Olive Park from Kirkwood Elementary School; and Kids Love It Park from Olive View Elementary School.

Mayor Gary Strack said while he liked all of the names, he was hoping to select a name that would mention Corning in it.

"So let's get the public a little more involved," he said. "I don't have a problem naming it after someone, but in a way I kind of would like it to relate more to Corning, something like the Corning Community Park, the Corning Olive Grove Park or something like that."

The city has a number of parks named after former residents — such as Estil Clark Park and Woodson Park.

By consensus of the council was to table naming the park and to solicit additional names from the community.

The council will then review the submittals during the Feb. 26 regular meeting.

A complete set of plans for phase one of the project is now available at city hall. City administration conducted a walk-through of the park's location with potential bidders earlier this month in preparation for phase one going out to bid.

Once the bids have gone out and a contractor selected, City Planner John Stoufer believes it will take six to eight months to complete phase one.

The city has already purchased the playground equipment that will be part of the first phase, as well as a gazebo.

Stoufer said the project is well within budget so far.

The park is located along the south side of Jewitt Creek between Toomes Avenue and Houghton Avenue, and will include a 18,000-square-foot, lighted skateboard and bicycle park, two lighted soccer fields, snack bar and equipment storage, plaza and amphitheater, covered gazebo, picnic tables and barbecue areas, walking trail along Jewitt Creek, walking/jogging trails, basketball and handball court, playground areas, restrooms and parking lots.

Corning was one of 62 park grant applications selected for special state funding from a pool of almost 500 applicants, and is the only city in the North State to receive one of the multi-million dollar grants.