MOUNT ZION - A month after the grand opening of Fletcher Park, village residents are getting quite a bit of use out of it.
It's been a long time coming. Construction of the park began in 2008 and has cost more than $3 million from a variety of state, local and private sources, including the volunteered time from village residents and its public works department.
The 24-acre park includes a pond full of fish, a large amphitheater and pavilion, playground and six tennis courts. With a variety of facilities, it also offers a variety of uses.
The Mount Zion Chamber of Commerce recently held its annual steak fry in the park. Village Administrator Jerry Potts said several weddings already have taken place there. On a given afternoon, high school tennis players can be seen taking up the courts while children run around the nearby playground.
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Bill Evely recently thumbed through a paperback while his 8-year-old son, Liam, fished nearby.
Liam just learned to fish this summer. "They're not biting, but it doesn't matter to him," Evely said.
Evely said he lives in Decatur and takes his children to parks there as well, but has enjoyed the Mount Zion park and returned several times.
"It's safe. It's clean. It's a good park. It's well put-together, well designed," he said.
Potts said everyone who fishes in the park must have a license, and officials are encouraging people to catch-and-release, at least for now.
Tom Burns of Mount Zion enjoys walking in the park with his wife, but also took his grandchildren to the playground when they visited from out of town.
Burns' daughter, Jenny Burns, has visited from her Maryland home several times during the park's construction. It's certainly come a long way since she attended Mount Zion High School.
"I think it was a big field then," she said.
Potts said village officials would love to accomplish more in the park's future, but for right now, the money has run out.
"There's a whole other one third of the park that hasn't been developed yet. We would like to put some sculptures up, more wildflowers, more trees, more landscaping," as well as a bocce ball court and splash pad.
"We've got a lot of things yet we'd like to do. We just don't have any funding," he said.
Potts also mentioned that naming rights to the large pavilion and amphitheater are still available for any potential donors.
People also still can donate trees and benches to the park. For more information, contact the village hall at 864-5424.
apetty@herald-review.com|421-6986
