Council Approves $805K More for Countryside Park

The City Council has given the go-ahead for the next two pieces of the Countryside Park renovation.

Council members at Tuesday’s meeting awarded a $443,901 contract for land grading to American Liberty Construction and a $361,000 contract for a new park shelter to Dering Pierson Group. 

The $805,000 in contracts approved Tuesday are the latest part of a park makeover originally planned to cost about $1 million. In December, the council approved the purchase of $173,000 worth of playground equipment from Minnesota Wisconsin Playground/Gametime.

The new playground equipment has roughly the same footprint as the existing equipment, though it will be relocated to the western side of the park.

One of the more unique aspects of the play area is the base, which is a recycled rubber "poured in place" safety surface. The flat surface will allow greater accessibility to the park for people of all ability levels, with plans to also install the rubber surface beneath the swings next to the playground.

Aside from the new play area, the $1 million park makeover will include a new 165-foot hockey rink, a dedicated free skate area, a new warming house, a wetland overlook and boardwalk and paved trails throughout the park. The park's existing baseball fields, tennis courts and basketball court will be retained.

The project is scheduled to start later this month and is to be completed by October.

Like Edina Patch on Facebook | Follow us on Twitter | Sign up for our daily newsletter