Ground breaking at Zearing
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| Community leaders and representatives gather for Monday’s groundbreaking-site ceremony for the Zearing Park expansion project on the south edge of Princeton. Among those attending were State Rep. Don Moffitt and Mayor Keith Cain, as well as current and past members of the Princeton Park District Board and members of the Bonucci family, from whom the 40-acre expansion site was purchased. The expansion project will include new soccer/athletic fields, a fishing pond, pier and new concession stand/restroom building. (BCR photo/Donna Barker) |
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PRINCETON — Nearly 10 years of dreaming and planning came to a pivotal point Monday with a groundbreaking-site ceremony for the Zearing Park expansion project.
The Princeton Park Board hosted the noon ceremony at the 40-acre site, located directly to the south of the current Zearing Park on the south edge of Princeton. Project plans include creating eight new soccer/athletic fields and building a new concession stand/restroom building, fishing pond and pier.
Park Board member Carl Pacunas recounted the early vision of Ed Young and himself to develop more soccer fields for Princeton youth. That was nine and one-half years ago, before girls soccer started in Princeton, when Young and Pacunas first talked to the Bonucci family about possible property for soccer fields.
“It’s been a long journey,” Pacunas said. “This is going to be so great for our community, something wonderful for our kids and our families to look back on in the future.”
Elaine Russell, executive director for the Bureau County Metro Center and Park District, thanked the guests for coming to Monday’s ceremony and encouraged Pacunas to savor the moment. She also commended the park board and all others who have been involved in the process.
“This has definitely been a group effort all the way along,” Russell said. “And it will continue to be a group effort. We will need everyone’s continued support to get this project where we want to get it.”
Princeton Mayor Keith Cain also commended the park board for its leadership in developing the expansion project. The project will be a great asset for the community and an important way to keep young people and young families interested in staying in Princeton.
Also attending Monday’s ceremony was State Rep. Don Moffitt, who helped the park district get a $320,000 OSLAD grant to buy the Bonucci property and another $400,000 grant to develop the property.
Moffitt said he has met several times with Cain and with the park board in its quest for state funds. The money is not from the general fund, but is dedicated money that is to be used for “open space and land acquisition” projects.
Moffitt commended the park board for promoting physical activity and fitness throughout the community. He also commended the park board for meeting all requirements and qualifications to receive the grant money.
“This is a real tribute to the Princeton community and to the park district that the funds were approved for this project,” Moffitt said. “That says what a high quality of park district and project that you have. I congratulate everyone who worked to make this project a reality. This is one more asset for your community.”
Moffitt also commended the park board for working with a local engineer, Kevin Heitz of Chamlin & Associates, and a local contractor, Dick Nelson of Advanced Asphalt, on the project.
In looking ahead to the development of the project, Heitz said the goal is to have the concession stand/restroom building and the fishing pier built by the end of the summer. The goal is to have the athletic fields ready for use by fall of 2010.
In concluding the 20-minute ceremony, park board President Gene Englehart thanked the guests for the past support of the project and for their continued support in making the Zearing Park expansion project a reality.
“This has been a community endeavor and this will be a community park for all of us to enjoy,” Englehart said.
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