Square renovations wrapping up ahead of schedule

Springfield-based general contractor Carson-Mitchell Inc. is performing the finishing touches of the renovation of Park Central Square, with construction now on pace to finish Oct. 21, 20 days ahead of schedule.

City project manager Randy Dunlap, an architect of Facility Design & Construction within Public Works, said the park likely will reopen to the public on Nov. 8.

Kit Carson, president of Carson-Mitchell Inc., said constant interaction between his company, the subcontractors, Public Works and project architect Butler, Rosenbury & Partners Inc. streamlined the process.

"We all worked as a team," he said. "That makes things move faster and smoother."

The $1.78 million project was started to restore the square to the vision intended by Halprin & Associates, which renovated the square in the 1970s. The renovations were designed to make the square more open and pedestrian-friendly, double the amount of trees, improve the lighting and infrastructure for community events, renovate the fountain and replace aged and worn pavers, according to the city of Springfield's Web site.

According to a blog post by Butler, Rosenbury & Partners:

• 72,000 brick pavers have been added, each placed by hand;
• 500 cubic yards of structural soil has been imported;
• 2,250 cubic yards of rock was imported for stormwater drainage; and
• four wheelchair ramps have been added.

Renovations began in early November last year.

Despite ongoing renovations, the fifth annual Taste of Springfield, this year combined with OktoberFest Village, is still scheduled to take place Oct. 1 around the square, said Rusty Worley, executive director of Urban Districts Alliance.

"We wanted to give people a sneak preview," Worley said of the square. "It's far enough along now that if folks haven't been down for months, they can get a glimpse of what it will look like when it opens in just a few weeks."[[In-content Ad]]