Hackberry Park

Orono Citizen Design (worked in a local Public Works Department for over a decade) plans out what is more acceptable to residents. This plan includes two of the only three T-ball fields in Orono. It would have been great if the Orono Park Commission had reached out to the Baseball Association before spending $9.3k on a plan that doesn’t even feature what the Association and the Residents want. Also requested repeatedly - Green Parking and a Volleyball Sand Court.

Note that the #CityofOrono, the #ParkCommission and #Bolton&Menk all call this a Masterplan and a Concept Plan in writing on the document. Which is it? A Masterplan or a Concept Plan? The difference will mean what grant funds will build which features. Once the grant funding comes through, there cannot be any changes to the main features. See Orono City Council meeting video here: https://oronomn.granicus.com/player/clip/1060?view_id=1&meta_id=53010&redirect=true&h=4e0cfcfcaf129eaea7063abd00004530

Hackberry Park is located in along Willow Road in a neighborhood near Long Lake. There are several features to this 4+ acre parcel including baseball/softball fields, a basketball court, benches, bike rack, chemical toilets, open space, picnic tables and playground equipment. This is a busy park during the warmer seasons with full parking along Willow Road during ball games.

The City of Orono will be burning and demolishing the one home built in the center of the park in the spring of 2023. Several drainage issues have come up in conversations so there may be earthworks necessary to resolve potential flooding.
A resolution developed by the Orono Parks Commission and City Staff Park Superintendent Josh Lemons is featured below. This resolution is going to be voted on during the April 10 City Council meeting for funding. There has been no community outreach about this park to date so this plan will be developed without citizen input.