Southwind Park to open in phases starting in May

The Springfield Park District plans to open Southwind Park in phases starting this spring and summer as sections of the park are finished.

The main building, Erin’s Pavilion, is expected to be ready for the public in late May or early June. One of the playgrounds and the fishing piers also should be finished around that time.

Park district officials hope to have Southwind’s 2-1/2 miles of paved trails ready when Erin’s Pavilion opens, but there might be a short delay. The “Great Lawn” is not expected to be ready for foot traffic until late summer, and there is no estimate on when the amphitheater might be completed.

Wet weather is the main culprit in the delays, said Leslie Sgro, president of the park district’s board of trustees.

“We’ve had two of the wettest years on record,” Sgro said. “That slowed us down a bit. But we are on track to open the pavilion. The park will open this summer in segments as they get completed so we can bring the park to the public as soon as possible.”

Accessible, environmental

Southwind Park is being developed on Second Street just south of the Trevi Gardens subdivision. The 80-acre park is designed to be accessible to all people, regardless of their physical ability.

Erin’s Pavilion, the centerpiece of the park, will serve as the welcome/visitor’s center. The 15,000-square-foot building has a terrace that overlooks the park’s lake and the building and includes state-of-the-art environmental features.

Plans call for a wind turbine and solar panels. There is also a hydrothermal system that uses lake water for heating and cooling, said Diane Mathis, director of marketing and development for the park district.

“All of those things, combined, will decrease our electricity bill considerably,” Mathis said. “Possibly, we won’t have a utility bill, but that’s speculation based on formulas.”

Park officials originally hoped that Erin’s Pavilion could be opened by summer 2009, but pouring additional concrete for the terrace area contributed to some of the delays, and engineers have also run into glitches with the hydrothermal system.

Mike Stratton, executive director of the park district, said the heating and cooling system is working, although experts are examining the system to address the glitches.

On Wednesday, workers were delivering office furniture to the pavilion.

“There’s a lot of interest on the part of the board, myself, donors and the community in getting this park open and getting this building open,” Stratton said. “We are ready to fire that thing up, probably in the next four weeks.”

Also not complete at the pavilion is the parking lot.

“The curbing and islands were completed last year, but then it got too cold and they closed the asphalt plant. As soon as the plant opens, we hope to be first on the list,” Mathis said.

Elzea ‘optimistic’

Park supporter Butch Elzea has been in the forefront of raising money for the pavilion and the park. The pavilion is named after his daughter, Erin, who had an enzyme deficiency that caused her to have to use a wheelchair. She died in April 2000 at the age of 17.

Speaking by phone from Los Angeles, Elzea said Wednesday he is “cautiously optimistic” that the pavilion will open to the public in late May or early June.

“There is still stuff to be done,” Elzea said. “As I know in business, the last few percent is always a bunch. My favorite statement is the last ten percent is always another 90. Bu, I’m excited about getting access (to the pavilion) and showing it to donors in the community.”

There is nothing else like the pavilion in Springfield, Elzea said.

Every aspect has been designed with disability access in mind. That includes doorways wide enough for wheelchairs and special lighting designed for people with autism.

“Erin’s Pavilion is going to allow us to level the playing field for all disabilities,” Elzea said. “It will create opportunities and space for civic groups, disability groups and able bodies groups to have meetings, weddings or other (functions).”

Playground areas

When the pavilion opens, the playground area nearby should be ready. Like the rest of the park, it will be fully handicapped accessible.

Eventually, there will be three playground areas at the park.

The main attraction at a second play area will be a treehouse. That area is still in the design phase, but plans call for it to be built from logs. The treehouse won’t be up in an actual tree, but it will look like it is.

Park officials hope the treehouse can be completed by the end of the year.

The Springfield Parks Foundation is helping with the treehouse, and the Kiwanis Club of Springfield-Downtown is raising money for the third play area, Mathis said.

During the park board’s monthly meeting Wednesday, the Kiwanis Club gave the park district a $10,000 check.

Both Sgro and Mathis said the late May or early June opening schedule still depends on the weather.

“The rain has really set us back,” Mathis said. “Not only that, but there is a high water table out there. We would have three or four great days, and the guys would be ready to get back to work. Then it would start pouring down rain again.”

Sgro said the district is moving as fast as it can.

“This is a project that will be worth waiting for. This is really something special. I think the community will be delighted, and we appreciate the patience of the community,” Sgro said.

Timetable

Springfield Park District officials plan to open Southwind Park in phases this year. Some features will be ready for use in late May or early June, while others will take longer.

These estimates are dependent on the weather, park district officials say.

• Erin’s Pavilion: Late May or early June
• Fishing piers: Late May or early June
• Gardens: Early summer
• Paved trails: Late May or early June, but possible short delays
• Sports courts: Areas for bocce ball, horseshoes, shuffle board and life-sized chess, late June
• Great Lawn: Might not be ready for foot traffic until late summer
• Outdoor amphitheater: Completion date undetermined.
• Dancing water fountain in lake: Has not been started; donor being sought

Southwind funding

The millions of dollars for the creation of Southwind Park come from various contributors:

• Springfield Park District: $8.1 million
• Grants: $2.5 million
• Cash donations: $1.15 million
• Non-cash donations (including excavation, tree plantings, donated professional services): $3 million
• Total estimated cost: $16 million (including $4.3 million for Erin’s Pavilion)

The park district is continuing to seek grants and accept donations.

John Reynolds can be reached at 788-1524.

Read the original article from The State Journal-Register.