City, county officials break Jordan Valley Park ground

The official start of construction for the first phase of Jordan Valley Park began at 10 a.m. Aug. 13 with a ceremonial turning of dirt. On hand for the festivities, left to right above, were Bill Compere, executive director of the Urban Districts Alliance; Stacey Burks, a representative from Sen. Christopher Bond's office; Barbara Lucks, chair of the Parks, Open Space and Greenways Element of Vision 20/20; Bart Boatright, Flintco Inc.'s project manager; John Rush, chairman of the Springfield-Greene County Park Board; Mayor Tom Carlson; David Coonrod, Greene County commissioner; John Whittington, vice chairman of the City Utilities Board; and Benjamin Alexander, Jordan Valley Park project manager. Carlson told the audience that the more than $3 million project is "on time and on budget" and will "transform this community." The public grand opening for the park, which will include an interactive water feature, an amphitheater stage, a promenade, formal and informal gardens, a picnic area, bicycle routes and a children's play area, is planned for May 2002.