Work to begin on Old North Durham Park

Jan. 09, 2013 @ 07:29 PM

City of Durham

DURHAM —

Users of the City of Durham’s Old North Durham Park should take note that construction is set to begin next month. Then work will close the park until August and impact vehicle traffic around the park t 310 W. Geer St.

The project will include installation of new and replacement storm drainage pipes as well as storm drainage structures within the park and along Foster Street between the Central Park School for Children and the intersection of Foster and West Geer streets.

Improvements will be made to the athletic field, including re-grading for better drainage, the addition of soil amendments, the installation of sod on the 310’ x 170’ athletic/multi-use field, and the installation of an irrigation system. New site amenities will include a paved sidewalk into the park from Foster Street, a new drinking fountain, new trash receptacles and new trees at the periphery of the field to replace existing trees that will be removed during construction.

Construction is set to begin in early February. Lanes will be partially closed on portions of Foster and West Geer streets until early March as the new storm drainage pipes are installed. By mid-summer the improvements within the park should be completed, but the park will need to remain closed until August to allow for the grow-in period for the new sod on the athletic field.

To help explain the planned construction and the vehicle traffic impacts, a public information meeting will be Jan. 17 from 7 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. at the N.C. Cooperative Extension-Durham County Center in the large conference room. The center is at 721 Foster St.

The city council approved the park improvements last January.

For more information about the project, including updates as the construction progresses, contact Project Managers Dana Hornkohl with the City’s Public Works Department at (919) 560-4326, ext. 30246, Marilee Martin with the City’s General Services Department at (919) 560-4197, ext. 21285, or visit the City’s website at http://DurhamNC.gov/ich/op/pwd/consproj/Pages/SD-2012-05.aspx.