MANSFIELD, Ohio — The new pavilion at South Park should be completed by Christmas, according to Parks Department Manager Mark Abrams.
“It’s been a long time coming,” Abrams said.
Adena Corporation began constructing the facility the first week of October. FiELD9: architecture created the design.
Abrams said the previous pavilion was between 60 and 70 years old. “It’d been around for quite awhile,” he said. “It was outdated.”
South Park has been without a pavilion since spring.
The new pavilion will have a kitchen and restrooms and will be able to hold 75-100 people. There will also be a new parking area for 20 cars.
“As soon as they’re done with it, it should be ready to be used,” Abrams said, adding, “So probably in the spring–unless the weather stays nice. As long as it stays nice out, I’m sure somebody will use it.”
Previously, people who wanted to use the pavilion could do so free of charge, unless they wanted to use the kitchen, too, which cost $50. Abrams said that policy will more than likely stay the same.
The project cost $198,800, which was paid for in part by a private donation in the amount of $140,000 from the Richland County Foundation. The remaining cost was covered by city funds.
