In 2020, the Board of Park Commissioners adopted a new master plan for Grant Park, the largest park in the District. The master plan reflects a large number of passionate voices from the community. The recommendation for safe, reliable access for students, visitors, maintenance and first responders came from community input. To address safety and accessibility within the park, the master plan calls for two new bridges to allow for reliable year-round access to the park’s trails.
The main trails at Grant Park are accessed via an existing 160-foot bridge near the park’s Normandy entrance. This bridge has reached the end of its lifespan. The plan calls for its replacement with a new vehicle load-rated, ADA-accessible bridge. The second bridge will cross Hole’s Creek upstream along the same trail network.
The Centerville-Washington Park District received $250,000 from the State Capital Budget’s One-Time Strategic Community Investment Fund to help fund this project. Construction on the new bridges will begin in mid-October. The main bridge at the Normandy entrance is expected to be completely removed in mid-November. But don’t worry, creek crossing stones will be placed upstream to allow park access until the new bridge is ready in the spring. Keep an eye out for directional signs at the park’s entrance to find the reroute!
Grant Park is a beautiful 222-acre nature park stretching along Hole’s Creek. It attracts more than 65,000 visitors each year. The park provides access to forests, meadows, prairies, wetlands and a meandering stream. A trail network connects the park’s natural and historic features, which include the Kennard Nature Nook, historic bank barn, nature play area, nature literature trail, fire circles and more.