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North Quarter Park in Chester Gets a Facelift

As part of three-year project, North Quarter park is undergoing renovations and will be unusable throughout the month of April.

The total project will include refurbishing the old portion of the playground at the park, as well as an addition of a new playground section, upgrading the hiking trails, installing a basketball court and a nine-hole disc golf course, new landscaping, and possibly the addition of a boardwalk and viewing area along the trail that could loop around the center of town.

“Ultimately the goal is to make the area a multi-generational recreational park,” said Chester Park & Recreation Director Elizabeth Netsch.

Currently, the work is centered around taking down the playscape that was installed in 1986 and pulling out the edging of the playground surface. Parts of that playscape in good condition will be used in other areas of the playground, explained Netsch.

As a way of keeping the project’s cost down, a volunteer day has been scheduled to help with the deconstruction of the playscape. It will take place on Saturday, April 20, from 1 to 3 p.m. All are welcome and encouraged to come out and help, said Netsch.

So far, the work at the park has included the addition of two new swing sets, a climber, and a shell fort. However, there was a bit of a glitch in the installation of the climber equipment, which is causing a holdup.

“We are just waiting for the company that we purchased the equipment from to fix everything before we do the install of the rest of the equipment,” explained Netsch. “Hopefully everything will be ready by summertime at the latest.”

Money for the multi-year project has been designated from the town’s capital project budget. Each year, through fiscal year 2021, approximately $23,000 will be released to be used for the project.

“This is something that will provide healthy activities in town for all ages,” said Netsch.

The trail boardwalk and viewing area proposal is set to go before the necessary boards and commissions in town. If approved, it would supply residents with the opportunity to walk by Chester Creek, and loop around town on a flat, stroller and pedestrian friendly trail that would also allow the viewing of nature without disturbing the natural area.

“Its important to people in our community to have the opportunity to take advantage of all the beautiful outside opportunities Chester has to offer and this project is one way we can help make those opportunities more available and safer for residents of all ages,” said Netsch.