Renovations will soon be underway for Veterans Memorial Park in Old Orchard Beach

A $1.2 million project to renovate Veterans Memorial Park in Old Orchard Beach will begin next month.

On Tuesday, the Town Council voted to approve $1,180,000 for RJ Grondin and Sons to make renovations at Veterans Memorial Park.

The price of the project was originally just over $1.4 million, but some changes were made to lower the costs.

Veterans Park spans about 7 acres and is located on First Street across the street from the Old Orchard Beach Chamber of Commerce and the Amtrak Downeaster platform. The park includes a fenced in dog park, playground, tennis court, basketball court, petanque court, a gazebo and veterans monuments.

Brent Bridges of Woodard and Curran has been working with the Veterans Memorial Park Committee on a renovation plan for the park.

The plan would create a more prominent entranceway on the corner of First and Staples streets, with hardscaping and an archway sign greeting visitors. It would also create stairs along with a winding, more accessible path up the hill to the monument. Flagpoles would be relocated to the top of the hill so that they would be more integrated with the monument.

Improvements will be made to paths in the park, as well as irrigation. Electrical outlets will be added to better support community events, said Veterans Memorial Park member Larry Mead.

Community member George Kerr is soliciting donations for lighting to help keep costs down for the town.

Construction on the project will begin in March and is anticipated to be done around July 1.

Councilor Michael Tousignant expressed concern that this project, as well as a project to renovate downtown bathrooms, would not be done in time for the start of the summer season.

Town Manager Diana Asanza said the town would “work every closely” with the developer to make sure events will be held in the park as scheduled.

Publisher Liz Gotthelf can be reached at newsdesk@sacobaynews.com.