Renovations at Buena Vista Park in Newport are ongoing; this time, a new green space, walking loop, and parking are being implemented.
Newport Mayor Tom Guidugli Jr. said the improvements to the park have been made over the course of 10 years. The area once served as a gravel parking area, and while it is still a gravel lot, Newport Public Works Director Ray Ebert said it’s an area where people tend to dump their trash.
The new grass area and the concrete loop will be east of the St. Elizabeth workout facility that was integrated into the area in 2019. The park, located at W 12th Street, has no dedicated parking. This project also includes adding seven parking spaces on the street with a new curb.
“We’ve had, I wouldn’t say, illegal parking, but just no organization. Everybody parking everywhere,” Ebert said. “So, this will clean it up a lot.”
According to Ebert, the lowest bid for the project was from Eaton Asphalt Paving Company for $53,976, and ReNewport has contributed $25,000.
Newport Commissioner Ken Rechtin said this project has been on the Westside Citizen Group and ReNewport’s radars for a long time. Ebert noted that some Newport Neighborhood groups have asked about planting trees and shrubbery in the green area, but he said that would take place further down the road.
The street’s paving is not included in this project, and Guidugli Jr. said it is also not in great shape.
“It’s going to increase the usage of the park, and it’s going to increase the aesthetic nature of the park,” Guidugli Jr. said. “However, we have to pave that street. If we’re going to make that corner look good, we need to make it all look good.”
Another aspect of the park not included in this project is new playground equipment ordered last year, which Ebert said should be arriving “any day now.” The playground sits to the west of the exercise equipment at Buena Vista. The old equipment was removed and the area is currently empty.
Guidugli Jr. said a new element had been added to the park about every five years.
“This will kind of finish it all off and increase the green space. People want more green space,” he said.
