$1.2M project planned for Nickeus Park in Jamestown

Yahoo

29-03-2025

Mar. 29—JAMESTOWN — A $1.2 million project is planned for Nickeus Park that will include new playground equipment, restroom, shelter and parking.
Amy Walters, executive director of the Jamestown Parks and Recreation District, said the district received a $600,000 matching grant for the project and work is ongoing to raise the rest of the funds to create an all-abilities inclusive playground and park.
"... it would be fully handicap accessible, including parking, restroom, shelters, pathways and the playground itself," Walters said.
Walters said they hope to complete the project this year, adding that the playground equipment will be the first priority.
"At this point it's conceptual. We would like to do it all, but it might end up needing to be done in phases," depending on how the fundraising goes, she said.
McElroy Park was at the top of the facility priorities as rated by the public during a process to get input, Walters noted. Nickeus Park ranked third, behind Two Rivers Activity Center. The rankings are part of the Comprehensive Parks Plan, adopted in August by the Jamestown Parks and Recreation Commission.
"What we looked at in identifying Nickeus for the location for this (project) was there is already so much activity targeted down at McElroy we felt it was important to have a safe and controlled location for this playground," Walters said. "So the playground is the destination at this park, whereas McElroy has a lot of game fields and motor vehicle traffic through it and trail heads, all of those types of things, it's much more variable and dynamic."
Nickeus Park is one of the city's flagship parks, she said. It's fairly self-contained with the river on two sides of it, is small enough that motor vehicle traffic doesn't have to be allowed and is centrally located in Jamestown, Walters said.
"Accessibility for all is one of our core values of our organization," she said. "It's an area that we know that we need to improve and our community has come alongside us to help us with that. So just really creating a space that people of all ages and abilities can come together to engage, play, learn is really important and so this would essentially ... be that space. And it's not specifically just for folks that do have a disability. It's for everyone and that's the intention is that we're creating a space that individuals of all abilities can come."
The project will include closing the park to motor vehicle traffic, she said.
"The roadway itself will stay for people to bike, walk, whatever," Walters said.
A parking area will be created, where people will be able to access the kayak dock, and parking is also available on the street north of the footbridge, she said.
"The playground's going to be the focal point of the park, so ... a significant amount of the budget will be spent on the equipment and the surfacing," Walters said of the project.
There will be a pour-in-place rubber surface for the playground area, she said. The playground equipment is expected to have multiple activity areas and opportunities for individuals to engage in different ways, Walters said.
"Right now ... we're receiving bids so we're in the process of securing the vendor for the playground equipment and then we'll work with them," she said, to do the final design for the equipment.
Also planned is a new restroom building with an attached shelter that is adjacent to the playground, Walters said. An existing clubhouse where the summer parks program currently operates out of will remain but get a small facelift and provide a gathering space off the playground, she said.
Two smaller existing shelters will also remain, she said.
"It'll be such an improvement from what we have now," Walters said of the project.
Joyce Heinrich, a member of the Jamestown Parks and Recreation Foundation, which is a vehicle for raising funds for the project, described Nickeus as "such a welcoming park."
"Now we're going to have parking and we're going to have things accessible," she said. "We're going to have nice bathrooms ... picnic areas and just fun for kids and families. It will be great. It will be great."
Walters said they are getting input on the design and considerations to be mindful of in the planning process. She said there is a group of community members who are involved in the planning.
Serving on the volunteer committee are two parents who have children with a disability, individuals who work at Anne Carlsen Center and Triumph Inc. and two community members with young children who consider Nickeus Park as their neighborhood park, Walters said.