Recreational improvements to Hanley Park are continuing with the coming of spring.
A new leg of walking trail, along with new playground equipment, are expected to be completed this summer.
“I think the improvements to be made to the park and the new trail will bring the park back to being a wonderful community asset that will be attractive to all residents,” said Sara Andrews, executive director of the local Office of Economic and Community Development, on Wednesday.
The park remains closed during construction. Duffy Inc. of Smethport was awarded the park/trail construction project at the March 8 Bradford City Council meeting.
“The City Parks Department has removed the old playground equipment,” Andrews said.
With the old tire-and-timber equipment gone, the park is much emptier; however, it will be emptier still before it’s filled back up with new equipment. According to Andrews, “The contractor will begin taking down the trees in the park within the next week.”
Removal of diseased trees will make the park sunnier than before, Parks Director Chip Comilla said in January. He noted at that time that only some of the trees would be removed, not all of them.
Meanwhile, the trail to be built through the park will connect with another trail of the Tuna Valley Trail Association.
“The trail is a part of the Hanley Park improvements and will consist of a .4-mile asphalt surface that will extend from the Community Parks Trail on Mechanic Street into and make a loop in Hanley Park,” said Andrews.
She described the new playground equipment, too, which will consist of pieces for 2- to 5-year-olds, as well as pieces for 5- to 12-year-olds. They will be located “where the swings were on the Davis Street side of the park.”
Previously, much of the children’s equipment was up the hillside from the swings. That’s where adult/fitness equipment — a new feature of the park — will be installed, according to Andrews, who noted it will be “near the center of the park as a part of the inner loop trail.”
While work at the recreation area won’t be completed in time for day one of students’ summer vacation, they should have plenty of days to test the new playground equipment before heading back to school in the fall.
Andrews explained, “The contractor has ninety days (weather permitting) and construction will likely not be completed before the end of school, but it should be completed by mid-summer. The park equipment will not be installed until some drainage and surface improvements are made where the equipment will be installed.”
State grants, a grant from the Blaisdell Foundation and funding from the Tuna Valley Trail Association has been set aside for the park and trail project.
