Construction at Dublin to make park safer for everyone
MADISON – Anyone that has a child in youth soccer knows first-hand how crowded Dublin Park in Madison has become at times. With the growth in population and opportunities offered at the park, comes increased traffic, pedestrian and parking issues.
The Madison Parks and Recreation Department is doing something about that.
“The main road that goes through Dublin Park, past the soccer fields, can become a dangerous situation, especially on Saturdays,” Kory Alfred, Madison Parks and Recreation Director, told WHNT.
He explained that to access fields 2, 3, and 4 you have to walk on the road with the cars. Children often get dropped off and they have to cross the road.
“It’s really mass chaos,” he added of the area on Saturdays. “If cars drive at a high rate of speed down this road, it becomes a severe safety hazard,” Alfred said.
Work started last week on widening the main road through the park and creating additional parking spaces.
The road between field 2 and 5 will be closed during construction.
Gene Scherer, American Youth Soccer Organization (AYSO) Regional Commissioner, presented a $100,000 check to the city on July 8 to help with the $278,000 project.
“This project is expected to last approximately six weeks, weather permitting,” Alfred said. “It will create parking space where parents can pull in, drop their kids off by the fields so the children don’t have to cross the road and interact with cars. We’ll also put a walking path near the soccer fields that will connect to the existing walking paths here at Dublin. And we’ll add 39 additional parking spaces where people can pull in off the road.”
Alfred said they are also going to extend the road by about 20 feet to make it wider.
There will be some inconveniences while construction is underway, but Alfred assures the end result will be well worth it.
During construction, the main gate inside Dublin Park will be locked, but the Ashley Drive entrance will be open for entrance to the Kid’s Kingdom parking lot.
“We thank you in advance for your understanding and patience while we create a safer environment for all citizens of Madison,” Alfred added.
