By JAN LARSON McLAUGHLIN
BG Independent News
The sun was shining Tuesday as officials dug in with their ceremonial shovels, and as the crews in the background worked on City Park’s new Veterans Building.
“What a perfect day to have an event like this,” said Bowling Green Mayor Dick Edwards. “How long have we waited.”
The mayor thanked Bowling Green citizens for passing the park levy, City Council for supporting the project, and the city forefathers for their wisdom in purchasing the City Park property in 1929.
“They acquired all this precious ground here from the county,” for $25,000. Prior to becoming City Park, it was the county fairgrounds.
“This is precious ground with a rich history,” said Bowling Green Parks and Recreation Director Kristin Otley.
The mayor at the time of the land purchase was Alva Bachman, a World War I veteran. The building used for many community events was named the Veterans Building.
“The name on this building means something to all of us,” Edwards said.
For years, park board members discussed upgrades in the park as the Veterans Building continued to age.
“It really grew legs while we worked on the last levy that voters overwhelming supported in 2016,” Park and Recreation Board Chairman Jeff Crawford said.
Crawford reminded those present about the mantra adopted by the park and rec department last year – “Enhancing lives daily.”
“I think it perfectly describes what we do in our community,” Crawford said. And the new building will help them continue to better lives.
Otley said she has been asked if she will miss the park buildings that have been torn down – the old Veterans Building, the Girl Scout Building, and the Depot. She acknowledged that the buildings have been a part of many memories for Bowling Green residents.
She recalled being interviewed for her job with the parks and recreation department more than 20 years ago in the Girl Scout Building.
“They had served their purpose for a long time, but they were ready to retire,” Otley said.
The new building, costing $3.75 million, will be opened in the first part of 2020 to create new memories for residents, she said.
In addition to the new building, there will be more parking and turn lanes at the park entry to reduce traffic congestion. It will make it easier, Otley said, for people to leave the park when a concert ends at the same time as the pool closing and a softball game wrapping up.
Following is a drone view of the City Park construction site taken this afternoon by the city.
