Improvements will begin soon at Bethlehem Park, as a result of the Alexander County Board of Commissioners approving bids at its latest meeting, held Monday (Feb. 5).
The total cost of the project is $2,355,000, including $1,295,000 for construction, which will be done by Lail Builders, Inc., $510,000 for lighting, which will be installed by Camp Electric, and $280,000 for lighting, which will be installed by Camp Electric, County Administrator Shane Fox said. For the new playground, which is being built by Carolina Parks and Play, $270,000 for engineering to be provided by West Consultants, and contingencies. The project will be funded with $750,000 in state funds and $1,605,000 in Section 44 sales tax money, with no local general fund tax money used, he said.
County Manager Fox said the project will include a new restroom/concession/picnic building, a new playground, renovation of two tennis courts, conversion of two tennis courts into eight pickleball courts, two half-court basketball play areas, and new lighting with steel poles. LED lights, conversion of the large baseball field into a soccer field, new baseball/softball batting cages, new ADA sidewalks and driveways, parking lot resurfacing, drainage improvements, and more.
The current structure at Bethlehem Park is 36 by 24 feet, while the new structure will be 96 by 30 feet with double the number of bathrooms, two dining areas, a new kitchen area, two service windows and picnic areas on both sides. The new playground will replace the existing play area, with areas for ages 0-5 and 5-12, including swings, slides, sensory areas, nature features and more. The playground will have a 20-year warranty. Bethlehem Park, about 13 acres, has been managed by Alexander County since the 1970s. The last major update to the shelter and playground was done in the 1990s. The new project should take 240 days to complete.
[Story courtesy of Rick Gilbert, WACB]
