Highland Park’s planned improvements are growing in scope, now requiring an additional $230,000 beyond the original budget to address needs discovered during the design phase.
On Monday night, June 5, City Manager Tom Ambrosino presented the expanded project details to the City Council, explaining that the Planning Department’s work had revealed infrastructure issues requiring immediate attention.
The original plan called for refurbishing the basketball courts, playground and sitting areas. However, as designers examined the site more closely, they identified critical deficiencies that demanded expansion of the work.
“fblikebutton_button” “As the City began to look more carefully at this park during the design phase, it determined that the parking lot area was likewise in desperate need of repair,” he wrote. The irrigation system serving the perimeter was not functioning properly, and the existing lighting fixtures had become obsolete.
The expanded scope now encompasses parking lot paving, a complete replacement of the perimeter irrigation system, new landscaping, and modern lighting throughout the park. Ambrosino also recommended installing additional lighting along the Willow Street side to better illuminate that area near the Jordan Boys & Girls Club and the Al Huda Society Mosque.
The project initially secured $400,000 in state grant funding, with the City contributing $170,000 through its Capital Improvement Plan. Ambrosino requested that the Council draw the additional $230,000 from the $34 million Free Cash fund, bringing the total expenditure to $800,000.
The Council received the request and scheduled a second reading for the following Monday’s meeting.