YOUNGSTOWN East Side park to get makeover to make it more family-friendly

The city awarded a contract for the project today.
By DAVID SKOLNICK
VINDICATOR STAFF WRITER
YOUNGSTOWN -- A park on the city's East Side will get a $297,000 face-lift.
The city's parks and recreation commission awarded a contract today for that amount to Murphy Contracting Co. of Youngstown for a major renovation project at Lincoln Park.
"We're trying to bring it back to what it was years ago," said Councilman Rufus G. Hudson, D-2nd. The park is in his ward.
Renovations to the 57-acre park include:
ULeveling and sealing the pool, which has been closed for about 25 years.
UErecting a gazebo in its place for outdoor concerts and other events.
UBuilding an access drive to the park from Oak Street extension.
URenovating the bathhouse or constructing restrooms.
UBuying and installing playground equipment.
URepairing the basketball and tennis courts.
UInstalling picnic tables.
UCleaning up wooded areas.
UInstalling lighting.
UAdding parking.
"The park isn't used nearly as much as it should be," Hudson said. "We want to make it more family-friendly, and have places for family reunions and picnics as well as outdoor concerts."
Some of the preliminary work will begin immediately, said Joseph McRae, the city's park and recreation director. The project could take up to a year, Hudson said.
An $81,000 state Nature Works grant is paying for a portion of the improvements with the rest coming from the city.
Murphy submitted the lowest of four bids for the project. The next lowest bid was $326,100.
skolnick@vindy.com