The City of Union broke ground on its new city square and park Tuesday morning.
“This is more than a construction project,” said Union Mayor Larry Solomon. “It’s a realization of a long-time vision, a central gathering place, a true town center that reflects the heart and soul of the city of Union.”
The event was attended by city officials and staff members, as well as representatives from the various businesses contracted with the project: Spaulding Construction, Summit Architects and city planning firm MKSK.
The new town square will sit on 22 acres on Brilliance Avenue off U.S. 42. The square will host a new city building, a 16-acre park with a splash pad and a public performance venue.
“Union Town Square will now be on what matters most to our community: green space, park amenities, a flexible event lawn and a larger, more welcoming city building,” said Solomon.
The city bought the land in June 2022. Following some initial consultations with MKSK, the city formed an advisory committee on the project in November 2023. Multiple rounds of resident surveys collected feedback from the public, and Summit first presented draft designs on the square to the City in April 2024. Early designs and information on the square were presented to the public at a special event the following June.
“We really got to learn what everybody was expecting for the project and in the park,” said Summit Architects CEO Scott Noel. “We now feel like we’re almost part of the community.”
The city approved a roughly $13.7 million construction contract with Florence-based Mark Spaulding Construction in July of this year. Up to $20 million in bond financing was approved earlier this August. The City is predicting the project to cost about $13 million. The city’s payroll tax, implemented at the start of 2023, is designated to cover the debt payments.
Public Works Director Paul Kremer previously reported to LINK nky that the project will be split into three phases, each focusing on a different primary feature. Phase 1 encompasses the construction of the city building. Phase 2 focuses on the infrastructure surrounding the development, while Phase 3 will be the buildout of the park.
The new city hall is designed to be a modern and functional space that meets the city’s operational needs while offering a welcoming environment for the public. Some key features are a public entrance space with a reception area, a commission room, and a community room equipped with monitors for presentations or events. A controlled-access door will offer secure staff areas.
The project’s designers said they wanted the facility to have abundant glass walls to allow sunlight into interior spaces. The commission room is planned to include two 65-inch monitors and a raised platform for commissioners. The ceiling and walls will be covered with acoustic tiles for better audio clarity. In addition, the room will have frosted glass panels adorned with the city logo.
Regarding the park, the designers wanted to create a space that serves a variety of functions, whether it’s outdoor recreation, live entertainment or relaxation.
The playground is divided into two zones by age group, with ages 2 to 5 years designated by yellow equipment and ages 5 to 12 years by orange. The playground will feature equipment like swings, slides and a zip line. Rubber mulch will coat the play area for added safety.
A lake, which will sit adjacent to the park’s primary “great lawn” area, will be equipped with an agitator to maintain water quality and a nearby pump house for utilities and water management. A stage and performance canopy is planned for the south of the great lawn, which will include a proposed back wall that’s suitable for movie screenings.
The park’s garden area will feature curved benches and a planting schedule designed to develop over three years for improved aesthetics.
“This space will belong to all of us,” Solomon said.
The construction is expected to last about a year and a half.
Kenton Hornbeck contributed reporting to this story.