Work is underway on the first phase of reconstruction of Bohn Park — decimated during the 2013 floods — and Lyons town officials hope that construction will be complete by the fall.
“Our goal is to have it done by September of this year,” said Dave Cosgrove, director of parks, recreation and cultural events.
The first phase of construction takes place on the north end of the park and includes a new restroom facility, work on parking and the trail system, a pedestrian bridge connecting to Fourth Avenue on the western end of the park, picnic areas, river access and other infrastructure enhancements.
Workers will also be restoring portions of St. Vrain Creek, which Cosgrove said should be done by the time the spring runoff starts.
He said the first phase is expected to cost about $4 million — the town gets reimbursed for much of the expense through different funding avenues — but he didn’t have figures on what the entire project will cost because the town is working on flood recovery as it can accrue the cash necessary to do.
“The town is juggling so many different recovery projects,” Cosgrove said. “We are trying to figure out how to make some sort of cash flow model work so we can get them all done.”
He said future work on the park includes rebuilding ball fields, a new shelter, a multi-use sports court and a skate park, but work on the park also has to be balanced with other projects that need to be completed.
Lyons was one of the most hard-hit towns in Boulder County during the 2013 flooding that hit the Front Range. In September, town officials rechristened what was once Meadow Park as LaVern M. Johnson Park, which was also largely destroyed.
Cosgrove said that following completion of Bohn Park, one more remains to fix up — Lyons Valley River Park, commonly known as the McConnell Ponds.
Lyons Mayor Connie Sullivan said that parks are the heart and soul of the community and breaking ground on the Bohn Park work marks “another major milestone in our recovery from the flood.”
She added that Bohn Park’s restoration is particularly important for Lyons, because the park is not well known to tourists, making it a nice place for locals to come to.
“The focus for Bohn Park will be to emphasize the creek and offer a variety of ecological as well as recreational experiences,” she said. “Being able to walk along the creek through Bohn Park is something we are all looking forward to again.”
John Bear: 303-473-1355, bearj@dailycamera.com or twitter.com/johnbearwithme
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