Plans for Hampshire park in final stages

HAMPSHIRE — If you consider Bruce Ream Memorial Park to be a little "blah," you are not alone.

A group of about 20 residents has been meeting over the past three months, considering long-term goals and incorporating ways to spruce up the park for residents.

Park Director Bob Whitehouse said he had invited residents and organizations to participate in the planning.

Tuesday night's final meeting featured a presentation by landscape architecture manager Steven Halberg of the Bonestroo engineering firm. He combined a wish list of residents with the parameters set by the park board into a master plan for the facility.

Whitehouse said the current park has about 20 acres, but because the adjacent land is in a flood plain, the comprehensive plan includes that additional 20 acres as possible future park area. He said the park district is in discussions with the village and the owner of the additional parcel, but said he was not able to comment on the specifics at this time.

Halberg said the group came up with four possible plans for the park with amenities that included sand volleyball courts, an amphitheater, additional parking, an extensive bike path/trail system, additional athletic fields and pre-teen playgrounds. For the older kids and teens, there would be a skate park in the far northern corner of the park, and a 9-hole disc golf course.

One of the most interesting features included in the master plan was the addition of a splash pad, which would spray streams of water into the air and contain mini-waterways for kids to play in during the summer months.

"It's a neat focal point that will draw activity, but it needs the support of other facilities like playgrounds and shade areas where adults can sit and supervise their children," Halberg said.

Whitehouse said the plans will be incorporated into future grant applications that will help fund the three-phase project. The first phase, which could be completed within two years, will expand existing parking along Jefferson Avenue, create two new playgrounds and add bathroom facilities to the current pavilion, which was a major concern for seniors and families with small children.

Phase II plans include expanding parking at the Terwilliger Avenue entrance, adding the splash pad, sand volleyball and the amphitheater, and could take place in year four or five. A final phase would expand the park to a future French Road connection at the north end and finish out the path and trail system and additional athletic fields.

"I think (the master plan) offers a lot of versatility. They did a great job of pulling all four plans together. I think (Bonestroo and the park district) took great care in respecting the surrounding properties and what we have," park neighbor Peg Freeman said.