After some delays, Buckley’s website for the future Miller Park is up and running.
For those not in the know, Miller Park will be built on 3.5 acres between Jefferson Avenue and Rose Place, right next to the White River Senior Housing complex.
There are currently three park designs that residents can view on the website, which is https://buckleyparks.wixsite.com/parks. All three proposed designs contain similar amenities like a volleyball and basketball court, a playground with a “log scramble,” an open lawn and benches, restrooms, a nature lookout, both a loop trail and connections to other trails, and parking.
Alongside those designs, residents can also take a survey related to the park, answers general questions like “what is your biggest barrier to using a city park and open spaces more frequently?” and “What types of parks and open spaces facilities amenities are most lacking as part of the city of Buckley?”
There are also specific questions about Miller Park, like what kind of amenities do you think should be included in the park’s design.
Those who are less tech-savvy or prefer to review the information about the park in person will have opportunities to do so.
“Staff will also be at the Buckley Market on Monday, Nov. 9 from 5 to 8 p.m. with a display booth, surveys to hand out and [to] answer any questions,” said Kevin Caviezel, Buckley’s community services director, in an email interview.
Come December, city officials will analyze data collected from these surveys and update the both the city and Miller Park websites.
Around the turn of the new year is when the city hopes to have the state review their site plan, with a State Environmental Policy Act hearing to be held in February or March 2021.
Then comes the grading and clearing, which are currently scheduled to begin that spring. Bids for construction are planned to go out that June or July, and finally, with construction finally beginning in late summer.
The current plan calls for the parking lot and a playground to be installed around August or September 2021.
NEW BASKETBALL COURT: BRICK FUNDRAISER
If you’d like to get in on the ground floor of investing in a new basketball court, complete with White River High School Hornet colors and logo, now’s your chance.
The court, which is expected to be completed Fall of 2021, will feature commemorative bricks on its west side. The court itself is to be located next to the Youth Center and skate park. When basketball isn’t being played, the court can also be used for pickleball.
The 4 inch by 8 inch bricks are $125 each, which gives donors two lines of 12 characters per line. Alternatively, you can get an 8 inch by 8 inch brick for $250, which gives you six lines total.
To participate in the brick fundraiser, download, print, and fill out the form at buckleyparks.wixsite.com/parks before mailing it to the city.
