Phase 2 Begins on $3.2 Million Construction Project at Ford's Pond in Sutherlin

Exciting news from Friends of Ford's Pond: more grant money has come in, which means the big Phase 2 construction project at Ford's Pond Community Park can start. This wouldn't be possible without the help of local donors. Their contributions helped increase the grant money, ensuring the park's improvement plan can go ahead. After a fair process of choosing the right construction company, the city gave the contract for Phase 2 to JRT Construction, LLC., based in Oakland. The building work will start in June. The project will make lots of improvements to the park. These include paving the rest of the way around the pond, building new toilets and a playground, putting up picnic shelters, and making parking spaces for buses and RVs. The total cost of the project is set to be over $3.2 million. At a recent meeting, the city council thanked the Friends of Ford's Pond for their hard work. They've spent thousands of hours fundraising and applying for grants from Oregon State Parks on behalf of the city. According to the latest newsletter from Friends of Ford's Pond, the Friends first spoke to the city about their plans in 2014. Back then, some people were doubtful about whether a park on the west side would be good for Sutherlin. Now, the city can proudly say it has a 200+ acre park that's making people healthier, attracting new businesses and visitors, and proving that hard work can make a big difference. Even though they've finished applying for grants for Phase 2, the Friends will keep looking after the park trails, providing pet waste bags, and working on smaller projects. If you can, please donate to help them keep up their great work. https://fordspond.org/volunteer/ The City of Sutherlin has shared some important dates about the construction. Building work at Ford's Pond will start on June 5, 2023, and should be finished by November 15, 2023. During this time, the Church Road parking lot will be closed from 7:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., Monday to Friday. The parking lot on Highway 138w will still be open but there will only be limited access to the path. The city is asking everyone to be patient and respectful while the work is going on. Here are some of the individuals that make up Friends of Ford's Pond: Jim Houseman, President Brian Menefee, Treasurer Beth Houseman, Secretary Crystal Cunningham Geoffrey Faraghan Larry Whitaker