(Worden, IL - November 16, 2009) � Work continues on the new twenty plus acre �Worden Community Park� scheduled to open in
spring 2010. Until then and in the interests of safety, the park is closed to the public. The bike
trail, which runs adjacent to the park, is a great way to view the many exciting additions.
Last week (see photo) Gillihan Concrete generously donated their expertise and labor by
constructing a new walking path adjacent to the parking lot as well as other concrete related
projects.
Most recently Rollie Lorenz, Elbert Blackwell and Rob Strothmann donated their time and labor
to put the finishing touches on the pavilions � thanks to them for all their hard work. And thanks
also to the many hundreds of volunteers (too many to list here) who donated thousands of hours
to help make this park a unique attraction for the entire community. There will be more
volunteer opportunities (including landscaping) in the spring.
In the coming weeks and months, trashcans and grills will compliment the wheelchair/stroller
accessible picnic tables already set up at each of the six pavilions. A multi purpose scoreboard
will be installed thanks to generous sponsorship from Albrecht Trucking, Bank of Edwardsville,
Cardinals Care, Ernst Heating and Cooling, First National Bank of Staunton, Madison
Communications, Meyer Insurance, and Worden Lumber Company. Ball field lighting will also
be completed and infield preparation (with volunteer help) will begin in order to have the ball
fields ready for use in the spring.
In the coming months the parks committee will plan the official opening and continue to work on
collating information for the interpretive center (the biggest pavilion in the park), which will
document the history of the site. If you have photographs or memories of this area when it was
Greentown, K.D. Mine, Lions Club facility, or the Sportsman�s Club, please call Natasha Casey
459-2199.
Finally with the holidays approaching how about a gift that supports the new park and honors a
loved one? A permanent large-scale cast bronze monument by local sculptor Thad Duhigg
entitled �Those Who Serve� will be placed in the park next year. Duhigg who is donating his
labor to this project will begin work on the monument in January 2010. A small-scale replica of
the monument can be seen at Village Hall (459-3244) where bricks, starting at $50 are on sale
now. To date almost $2,000 worth of bricks, pavers and benches have been sold.
The Parks and Recreation Committee next meets on Thursday December 10th @ 6.30pm at
Worden Village Hall.
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