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Anson Park may see a makeover

T-R PHOTO BY MIKE DONAHEY Anson Park is owned and operated by the city of Marshalltown.

One of Marshalltown’s largest parks may be getting a makeover.

Just seven days on the job, new Parks and Recreation Director Geoff Hubbard said he is scheduled to meet with an architect from the Bolton and Menk Engineering, Planning and Consulting firm this week to discuss improvements.

Proposals including making the park more accessible for people with disabilities, renovating the shelter house so it could be used year-round and creating more parking are under consideration, Hubbard said. Any changes to the park would have to go through the city council.

Parks and Recreation board member Matt Tullis said some existing equipment may be replaced.

“A possible introduction of additional sidewalks will allow greater accessibility to the public and will be a nice addition,” Tullis said. “We are striving to create inclusive park atmospheres throughout town.”

Hubbard said an Iowa Valley (Community College)/Marshalltown Regional Partnership sponsored Leadership class could be an asset as they may want to assist with fundraising or other work.

At 9.4 acres, Anson Park may also be one of the most popular in town while serving the southeast and southwest quadrants of town and more.

The park’s popularity became evident nearly three years ago when numerous residents voiced their objections on social media and elsewhere when city officials considered using the park for a new joint police and fire department headquarters. A citizens task force charged with selecting a site soon discarded the park from consideration and picked the site (formerly home to the “old” EconoFoods and Knights of Columbus Hall) in the 900 block of South Second Street where construction is now underway.

“I grew up playing there, my children and grandchildren did too,” resident Beth Short wrote about Anson.

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Contact Mike Donahey at

641-753-6611 or

mdonahey@timesrepublican.com

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