03/02/2025
https://www.facebook.com/share/1EKSyKEuTz/?mibextid=wwXIfr
Coming Soon: Billings renovations
For the full story, go to:
https://bulletinnewspapers.weebly.com/uploads/1/1/4/8/114832579/wr_ros_bulletin_pages_1_to_12__13feb2025.pdf =5
By Ariane Komyati
After four public design meetings over the past two-and-a-half years, the much anticipated improvements to Billings Field are set to begin this spring. Project Manager B. Chatfield explained that the Parks and Recreation Department is currently working towards completing the design drawings. She said after carefully reviewing resident input from the last public meeting in January of 2024, the department anticipates going out to bid in March once the final drawings are submitted.
The last public meeting regarding the Billings Field improvements took place in Jan. 2024. The updated concept proposal included an accessible ramp off of Bellevue Street, new accessible paths throughout the park, minor upgrades to the basketball and tennis/pickleball courts, a splash pad, minor playground upgrades, field upgrades, and a street hockey rink.
Most community members were in favor of the accessible ramp on Bellevue Street, while others stated that “a better use of the funds would be to make the accessible access point at the end of Quinn Way.”
Many community members and residents were vocal about their support for the in-line rink. During last year’s design meeting, Parks and Rec received over 30 comments in support of the rink. Many residents remarked how popular hockey is in WR and that they didn’t want their kids playing it in the streets anymore. Others said that there are too many tennis courts and they would rather see a hockey rink. Another person noted how kids from the community petitioned for this rink. A few representatives from Parkway Youth Hockey also spoke in favor of the rink. “Currently, skating and rollerblading isn’t allowed on the path at Billings. Hopefully with the renovations rollerblading will be allowed on the path so kids can be active in the park, especially on the way to the rink,” one community member said last year.
The Parks and Rec team said it took these comments very seriously. “We heard loudly from the community that if budget becomes an issue – and we don't know this until it has gone out to bid – that the proposed street hockey rink coming out of the project is not an option. As a result of that conversation, we simplified the design of the LaGrange entrance area – it's no longer a large plaza – and will therefore be easier and cheaper to build than what we were showing earlier,” said Chatfield.
Chatfield explained that the standard Parks and Rec process begins with presenting the design in "concept" at community meetings, using a colored rendering to illustrate key features. This concept is then developed into detailed, constructible drawings. While there haven’t been any significant changes to the Billings Field improvement plans since the last design meeting, Chatfield said the department has refined the design to make it buildable and now has a drawing set that a contractor can build from.