Center Point park to hold grand opening Saturday

Sarah Wacker has been waiting two years for Fross Park to reopen.

“We would drive by and see what they were doing,” said the 30-year-old mother of two. “It was something to look forward to.”

The park tucked on the northwest side of Center Point opened this summer and will have its grand opening Saturday after a $2.7 million expansion and renovation.

The park now features four ball diamonds, three soccer fields, a milelong walking trail, basketball court, tennis court, skateboard park, big splash pad, two concession stands with restrooms, a second entrance and lighted parking lots.

This summer, Wacker, a stay-at-home mom, has been riding her bike to the park with her daughters - ages 1 and 4 - in tow. The girls especially like the splash pad and the swings.

“We like to go to the park a lot,” she said.

City employees and volunteers were installing equipment and making last-minute touchups this week in preparation for Saturday's grand opening, scheduled for 10 a.m.

The Center Point-Urbana High School marching band will play. Congressman Dave Loebsack and others will speak.

The soccer and baseball fields aren't ready for competition yet, but “might be usable by spring,” City Administrator Steve Winger said. He said the high school is interested in playing its soccer games there.

“People can use them right now, but not for tournaments or anything,” he said.

Rathje Construction of Marion worked on the project, which started in 2007 and took about twice as long as expected.

Fundraising for Fross Park was boosted in late 2006 by a Vision Iowa Community Attraction and Tourism grant for $540,000. The project also received donations from Linn County for $200,000 and from Cargill for $50,000.

The estate of Bob Laker donated $1.5 million to the project in early 2005. Many individuals, families and businesses also donated, officials say.