On Tuesday, July 16, 2025, the Centerville-Washington Park District held a dedication ceremony to recognize the completion of two new bridges at Grant Park. The bridges will benefit students from the two neighboring schools (Normandy Elementary School and Watts Middle School), park visitors, staff and first responders — improving park access in BIG ways.
The park improvement project included a vehicle-rated, ADA-accessible bridge near the Normandy entrance that connects to the park’s main trail system, as well as a second bridge spanning Hole’s Creek upstream. Funding for the project was made possible through a generous donation from Rev. Harvey Smith and a $250,000 grant from the State Capital Budget’s One-Time Strategic Community Investment Fund.
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.