[Sept. 2002]
Artwork benches have been received by the City. Installation of the benches is expected to be accomplished in October, pending a final landscape/siting design.
Design work continues on the granary reconstruction and bridge replacement. Construction on both is expected to begin during the winter of 2002-2003.
[June 2002]
At our June 12th General Meeting, the City and its design contractors made a presentation on further work in Dawson Farm Park.
The large remaining projects are doing something with the old granary site (behind the fencing on the hill) and replacing the bridge at the Ritchie Parkway entrance.
For more detail on these projects, see the City webpages on this subject.
After the presentation, question and answers, and some discussion, we voted on a motion of approval for the present concept. This motion carried by a large margin.
[2001]
Improvement plans for Dawson Farm Park have been contracted and work should begin in April, 2001. These plans call for the following work. [note: While this Assoc. recently received a set of blueprint plans, they cannot be reproduced here due to their resolution and size.]:
- Planting of twelve large trees, mostly in two clusters near the intersections of the existing pathway around the lower basin. The species will be River Birch, Red Oak, American Hornbeam and White Fringe Tree (this last species is a flowering/aromatic variety).
- Removal of the Ritchie Parkway road stub at the southern entrance to the park. Fifteen feet of pavement will remain, the remainder will be filled with grass and plantings.
- Further developing of the storm water facility. To be accomplished by filling a riparian zone along the creek banks with assorted native plantings to increase the vegetative water quality filtering.
- Installing approved artwork benches. [Aluminum benches with sculpted leaves supporting the ends.]
- Installing of railing atop the old barn foundation.
- Placing historic markers.
Further items that appear in the City CIP Budget for the year 2002, but will not be done with the present renovations are:
- Replacing the bridge.
- Further historic research for a "partial granary restoration".
A couple items that appeared in early plans will not be included in these improvements:
- Pavilion structure atop the old granary foundation.
- Woodland pathway through the former orchard area.
- Plantings all along the lower basin path.
