QUINCY — Construction is scheduled to begin in spring 2024 on a new park along Quincy’s Sixth Avenue NE. Quincy City Council members approved a contract with Michael Terrell Landscape Architects, Deer Park, for a design during their regular meeting May 16.

“The park property is located near the Quincy Animal Shelter,” wrote Public Works Director Carl Worley in response to an email from the Herald. “It was property dedicated by the developers of the nearby apartments as the requirement for open space.”

The site, currently a vacant lot, is located at the intersection of Sixth Avenue NE and E Street NE.

“It was at one time (a potential site for) the dog park, an area to walk dogs as we see in other communities. With the further buildout of residential (properties) in the area it was realized this was not a good fit due to potential noise,” Worley wrote. “At this time our thought process shifted to a neighborhood park.”

The city will pay $68,000 for the design. The property is about 1.5 acres.

The goal is to finish the design phase by August, according to the scope of work documents included with the contract.

“We provided the landscape architect with a pretty long list of items to consider, knowing that they may not all make it into the design due to limited space,” Worley wrote.

The list includes a playground with toys for children up to 12 years of age, an open play area, bathrooms, benches and picnic tables, a skate area and lighting.

A splash pad is also on the list, and Worley said that’s an effort to provide a place to cool off for people, especially children, in the neighborhood.

“The city wanted to provide something to the northeast portion of town so there was not such a long distance for youngsters to travel for a water feature on hot days,” Worley wrote.

The site already has some parking, but otherwise is unimproved. The architects will evaluate the site, talk with city staff and come up with some design options, according to the scope of work. Quincy residents will get opportunities to look at the plans and select their preferred options, according to the contract documents.

Cheryl Schweizer may be reached at [email protected].

Park basics:

$68,000 design cost

Landscape architects - Michael Terrell Landscape Architects

1.5 acres in size

Features for children up to 12 years

Features: open play area, bathrooms, benches, picnic tables, skate area, lighting, splash pad

Construction start - spring 2024