On November 10, 2022, the Board adopted a resolution approving $1.6 million in ARPA funding for enhanced community programming ($200,000) and for the development of a new park adjacent to 651 North Highland Avenue ($1.4 million). This project is designed to revitalize the Highland Avenue corridor by creating a park with multiple amenities that will positively enhance the community’s quality of life.
An RFQ for a design-build firm was issued in early 2023. Frank L. Blum Construction was selected and began design work in the spring and summer of 2023, completing construction documents in the fall of that year. A guaranteed maximum price for construction was approved, and construction began in the spring of 2024 and was completed in June 2025.
Just over an acre in size, the new park introduces several key amenities, including more than 14,000 linear feet of walking path, a 25-person picnic shelter, a 1,000-square-foot public restroom facility, a half-court basketball court, a pickleball court, fully accessible playground equipment, and a direct connection to the Malloy-Jordan East Winston Heritage Center Branch. Together, these features provide a welcoming and engaging space that supports recreation, wellness, community gatherings, and neighborhood pride—delivering meaningful, long-term benefits to residents and strengthening the overall vitality of the area.
