With the initial unveiling of the new McEuen Park on Saturday, I thought I'd reflect on the remarkable, if not so easy process that got the city to this point.

It began 16 years ago when plans to upgrade the park were being discussed by staff at City Hall. With the blessing of Mayor Al Hassell and his Council, Planning Director Dave Yadon worked with Parks and Recreation Directors Doug Eastwood and Steve Anthony to develop hand-drawn concepts. One plan was to move the ballpark to accommodate a small grassy amphitheater facing the lake. Nearby, green space and a grand entrance to Tubbs Hill replaced the boat trailer parking along the seawall overlooking the boat launch. Parking stretched away from the waterfront toward City Hall and accessed new tennis and basketball courts. It was an inspiring design and, with the exception of the elevated Front Avenue, not unlike what is being built today.

Funding for the park was the next hurdle. Mayor Hassell made it clear that taxes would not be increased to pay for the upgrade, so city staffers looked elsewhere. After researching the issue, they encouraged the city to create an urban renewal agency to use as the major funding source. They recommended a district in the downtown, midtown and along Northwest Boulevard, an area encompassing less than 10 percent of the city's property owners, so that McEuen Park among other projects would benefit from any new tax dollars created as a result. Over the next dozen years the URA realized a large increase in new construction, sufficient to finally get the park project moving.

During this time three worthy projects came along and jumped ahead of the park. First it was the new Library and then the Kroc Center, and finally improvements for the Education Corridor. Through the years, McEuen waited, patiently, while these remarkable projects were funded instead, each of which helped to make the community a better place to live.

At long last, her time would come, with Mayor Bloem and the City Council revealing plans for the improvements. Of course, the rest is (recent) history. Town hall meetings were held to gather input, leading to concessions considered and implemented, including most notably keeping the boat launch in place. Still, some were unhappy with the plans and called for a public vote on the issue. Failing that, they sought changes on the Council, but in the end the plans were adopted, funded and now the project is nearing completion.

Remarkably, as it was first intended, the city at no point along the way has been required to increase taxes to pay for the park. The major funding source has mostly come from new development in Riverstone, along with funds accumulated over the years for new utilities in Front Avenue and parking tucked underneath.

Like most things of great merit gained, the process to bring about the new park has not been an easy one. Some would say it has fractured the community in a way that only time can heal. In any event, the incomparable new McEuen Park will finally be revealed this week and be ready for generations to use next spring, nearly two decades after her long and arduous journey began.

John Austin is a consultant and Medimont resident.