Neighborhood Vision Coming to Life (Updated)
City Set to Break Ground on New Linear Park
February 20, 2020
2/20/2020 UPDATE: Due to the inclement weather expected this afternoon, today’s groundbreaking ceremony for the new Bond Community Linear Park has been moved to the Walker-Ford Community Center, 2301 Pasco Street.
Original Press Release, 2/17/20 at 9:28 a.m.
The City of Tallahassee is proud to announce that construction will soon begin on the new Bond Community Linear Park. This project was brought forth as an idea by residents as part of the Neighborhood First planning process in the Greater Bond Neighborhood.
Connecting Speed-Spencer-Stephens Park to the St. Marks Trail, this new mid-block, multi-use trail and park will add greenspace and expand access to recreational opportunities, while also enhancing the stormwater system.
To celebrate this milestone, the City and residents will gather together for a groundbreaking ceremony in Speed-Spencer-Stephens Park near the intersection of Saxon and Okaloosa streets on Thursday, Feb. 20, from 2-3 p.m. On-street parking is available; additionally, parking for this event will be available at Greater Mt. Zion Primitive Baptist Church (1819 Saxon St.) and on the vacant, City-owned lot on the northwest corner of Saxon and Okaloosa streets (signs will be posted).
The first step of construction will be enclosing the ditch. The new linear park will then be built on top of it. When complete, the park will offer such amenities as drinking fountains, park benches, swings, landscaping, lighting, an entrance seat wall and a paved path. During construction, which is expected to be completed by July, there may be temporary lane or road closures near the construction zone.
In line with the City’s 2024 Strategic Plan, this project represents an important investment in the community and is designed to enhance quality of life and the City’s already robust park and trail system.
The Greater Bond Neighborhood First Plan was adopted by the Greater Bond Neighborhood Association on September 24, 2018, as part of the City’s Neighborhood Public Safety Initiative. On December 13, 2018, the Tallahassee Community Redevelopment Agency voted unanimously to fund the plan to the tune of $6.4 million, with an initial funding of $500,000 and a commitment of an additional $5.9 million over the following three years. Development and construction of the linear park was included in the initial funding.
The Greater Bond Neighborhood First Plan addresses the neighborhood’s top priorities and concerns: Community Beautification, Land Use, Economic Development and Resident Empowerment, and Neighborhood Safety and Crime Prevention. It is the culminative work of a yearlong collaborative process led by the neighborhood association’s community action team, residents and various interested stakeholders, supported by the City of Tallahassee.
Get details about all the City’s parks and its neighborhood liaison services at Talgov.com.
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