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31 °F Forecast | Road Cams Wednesday, April 13, 2005 Today's News | Classifieds | Autos | Homes | Jobs | Tempo | Health | Community | Home Delivery SECTIONS Home Page Local News Sports Business Obituaries Life Opinion Tempo AP News Weather Classified Archives Site Map SPECIAL SECTIONS Since We Asked Outdoor Journal Menu Guide How To Guide Health Readers' Choice Real Estate Showcase Real Estate Guide Joy Magazine Homelife Magazine Wedding Guide Passport to the Rogue Valley SHOP OUR VALLEY AutoFinder HomeFinder JobFinder Classified Place an ad TOP JOBS EXTRA Ashland News NIE Personals Movie Times TV Times E The People Volunteer Moving here? eSouthernOregon CUSTOMER SERVICE FAQ's Advertise with us Home Delivery Employment Contact Us Media Kit Oregon Road Conditions & Cams Email Story to a Friend April 11, 2005 The park site at Lewis and Eighth streets currently is an overgrown field with a creek running through it. Mail Tribune / Bob Pennell A lot of use for a lot Vacant property could show signs of life as Lewis Street Park proposal moves forward By MEG LANDERS Mail Tribune Construction might begin by summer in a west Medford neighborhood on a park that would feature a BMX track, a water spray feature and a wetland viewing area. "I think it’s awesome," says Sharrie Swift, who lives near the site of the proposed park, at Lewis and Eighth streets near the Black Bird Shopping Center. She anticipates her 5- and 6-year-old children will spend a lot of time there. "It’ll give them somewhere to play," she says. The Medford City Council on Thursday approved the Parks and Recreation Department’s plan to apply for a $500,000 state grant for the 8.34-acre Lewis Street Park, estimated to cost $1.5 million. Aside from the overgrown blackberries, an abandoned car and discarded bottles, the property is vacant. Brian Sjothun, parks and recreation director, said the department has $300,000 in the capital improvement fund for the project already. Advertisement "We might begin construction this summer," said Sjothun. He said the land has been annexed into the city, but awaits a zoning change and an extension of Eighth Street along the north end of the property. Merlin McDaniel, parks design and construction manager, said the list of amenities for Lewis Street Park includes two basketball courts, a volleyball court, playgrounds for children and for toddlers, a jogging area and the enhancement of the riparian area along Elk Creek, which flows through the property. The city is looking for individuals or groups who want to offer support or equipment to help build the park. Those interested may contact Bev Power at the parks department at 774-2400. The city has 38 other park sites in the city, ranging from a half-acre triangle of grass at Court Street and Central Avenue to the 1,740-acre Prescott Park and the future 132-acre sports park on Highway 99. The nearest park facility to the Lewis Street neighborhood is the Santo Community Center on North Columbus Avenue near Jackson Street. The council on Thursday also approved a plan to apply for a $50,000 grant to continue developing Lone Pine Park next to Lone Pine Elementary School. The parks commission will hold a public meeting at 6:15 p.m. Thursday in the Lone Pine Media Center to discuss the upcoming improvements. The city awaits word on a $500,000 federal grant application to build Liberty Park, proposed in the neighborhood of Beatty and Edwards streets. Lewis Street Park will be located next to a 60-unit apartment complex under construction called Parkside Village Apartments. The high-density residential area, owned by local developer Laz Ayala, will have three eight-unit buildings and three 12-unit buildings. Trisha Mott, operations manager of Ayala Companies, said the first building is scheduled for completion in May. One-bedroom apartments will rent for $650, two-bedroom for $750 and three-bedroom for $875, said Mott, who is the property manager. For more information on the rental apartments, contact Mott at Ayala Properties, 773-1619. Reach reporter Meg Landers at 776-4481 or e-mail [email protected] . Mail Tribune Home | Local News | Sports | Business | Obituaries | Life | Opinion AP News | Archives | Site Map | Community | Classified Copyright © 1997-2005 Mail Tribune, Inc. All rights reserved. Privacy Policy | Terms & Conditions | Website Feedback Student Loan Consolidation Conference Calls - $50/Month Home Security Systems Trunks, Footlocker, Trunk, Footlockers home equity loans helzberg Distance Education Diamonds Slippers Student Loans afsa teleconferencing Memory Foam Mattress w2 forms Tatoo Fasa Advertisement s