Noonan Park set to get facilities upgrade

According to Moorcroft Public Works Director Cory Allison, Glenn Construction came in with the lowest bid of $124,680 and plans to break ground for the new Noonan Park bathrooms the first part of October.

To mitigate costs as much as possible, the public works department will carry out the “dirt work”, including laying the foundation under the supervision and specifications of the builder.

The governing body has been discussing financing a new bathroom structure for Noonan Park for some time and, with the decision to use the funds remaining from the sixth cent (specific purpose) tax for this project and the new playground equipment that will be set in Noonan and Robinson Parks, they have managed a small facelift for the oldest of the town’s parks.

The council is pleased with this use of taxpayer dollars in the community. Most of the funding from this source has been utilized “underground” within the infrastructure, including the new waterline recently set through the cemetery, and the body has sought a project upgrade above ground for the town residents to be able to enjoy as well.

Councilman Dale Petersen recalls the first Noonan Park bathroom structure being built in the mid 1970s, but was later closed due to disrepair and noncompliance with ADA requirements. Petersen, who was part of the council who made that decision, states that, “to repair and expand to meet ADA requirements would have, in my opinion, not been a good use of resources.”  

Progress on the new structure was stymied for a couple of months as the council waited for results from the individual first asked to create a blueprint for the building to present the plans. With no production forthcoming, the job was given to Glenn Construction for completion.

The plans are based on the Waters Park bathrooms in Pine Haven. Allison said that the building will look “a lot like the ones by the baseball field [at Westview Park], only just one level.”