LELAND — The year-long renovations at Leland’s Founders Park are nearing completion, with the town eyeing a soft opening by early winter.
At Monday’s town council agenda review meeting, Assistant Town Manager Niel Brooks provided an update. The $7.8-million park renovations include a new amphitheater, splash pad, veterans memorial, walking trails, picnic shelters, and playground. Completion is expected by February 2025 at the latest.
However, Brooks told council the grand opening will be delayed until after May to accommodate the establishment of newly laid sod, to be installed in the central part of the 8-acre park at 113 Town Hall Drive in Leland.
“It’s a pretty large swath,” Brooks said.
To be laid this fall, the sod will remain dormant throughout winter until the soil’s root temperature consistently reaches 65 degrees or higher, he detailed. At that point, it will begin to take root and grow, a process expected to occur in April or May.
Minimal foot traffic is recommended to prevent disrupting growth. If the sod isn’t properly established before heavy use, it may need to be entirely replaced.
“We want to be realistic about the situation,” Brooks said, “and also be realistic about the expectations for the community. We just built a brand new park, and you’re telling us we can’t go and get on the grass for a while.”
Council member Bill McHugh proposed having two openings for the park: a smaller ribbon-cutting ceremony when construction is completed in the winter and a larger grand opening in late May. Additionally, he recommended sectioning off the area where the sod is still developing.
“Not necessarily rebar and caution tape,” he said. “ I think it’ll be OK to put up some signs like, ‘Hey, please be patient. Our grass needs a couple of weeks to set in.’”
Mayor Brenda Bozeman proposed holding the grand opening Memorial Day weekend in 2025. The budget allocates $5,000 for the event, to feature live entertainment, refreshments and giveaways. The park has been closed since December 2023, though groundbreaking on the renovations begin in October.
Its updates were designed with the help of McGill Associates Engineering and Goodrich Oaks Architecture.
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