Phase 2, which includes the construction of the aquatic center, can begin as soon as Phase 1 ends. A pre-construction meeting for the second phase is planned for today as the once-beleaguered project, which fell a year behind schedule and ballooned $3 million over budget, seems to finally be making strides instead of being slowed by setbacks.

“Right now everything on Phase 1, aside from the amphitheater, is on schedule. The amphitheater is suffering from sourcing delays for some of the components they need,” East Palestine Village manager Antonio Diaz-Guy told village council on Monday. “It’s supposed to be resolved by the end of next week and we will have an official timeline for Phase 2.”

The material shortage has pushed the completion of the stage back to July.

Diaz-Guy reported that village requested a change order regarding Phase 2. The village asked that the demolition of the existing pool building as well as the playground Rainbow Dreamland be completed in that phase but Diaz-Guy said the request would mean more money.

Landscaping work is underway at the East Palestine City Park as Phase 1 of the $25 million renovation projects nears its end. (Photo By Stephanie Elverd)

“It will take an additional cost because they need to fill in the ground once we demolish the pool,” Diaz-Guy explained.

Mayor Trent Conaway made the suggestion that the existing pool building be “grinded up” and used as fill. Councilman John Simon said the idea would work.

“Sometimes you have issues putting asphalt over [old material] using that as a sub-base but you could put it underneath and put limestone on top of it,” Simon said.

Diaz-Guy said he will propose the idea to Norfolk Southern at today’s meeting and would not agree to any changes without council’s permission.

“We won’t bind any change orders without acknowledgement from the council,” he said.

Diaz-Guy also addressed concerns regarding memorial plaques and markers as well as rocks — some that weigh upwards of 600 pounds — that are designated as memorials around the park.

The same concerns were brought up about the memorial wooden planks that surround Dreamland. Diaz-Guy said all will be saved with the rocks moved during construction and placed throughout the park at “a suitable location after Phase 2 is complete.”

Overall, the park project is gaining ground. Last week, the sand volleyball court was completed, new patio furniture assembled and installed, final light poles were installed, trees and existing concrete stairs were removed and topsoil was spread.

This week, landscaping work got underway, while the 30-day outlook included pouring of the stage cap at the amphitheater, filling in gaps on sidewalks and connecting the sidewalk connected to the stage and courts, caulking of the concrete joints and erecting sports court fencing. Paving the dog park parking lot was projected to begin Tuesday and court equipment and coating projected the Week of May 19.

The existing tennis courts are set to be demolished soon. Head coach Ashley Murphy asked the village to leave the courts until the end of the season so as to not disrupt her season or cause hardship for her team.

Currently, Phase 2 has a target completion date of Summer 2026. There is no target start of completion date for Phase 3 — the final phase after Norfolk Southern consolidated what was eight planned phases. Initially, the project was presented in a six-phase segmented timeline.

As far as the budget exceedance, $3 million of proposed upgrades will be cut from Phase 3 after the village agreed to absorb the design fee into the overall budget in its official settlement with the railroad. The village will make the decision what components will be eliminated after gathering and weighing public feedback.

The Village of East Palestine continues to provide the public regular updates on its Facebook page, East Palestine Information.

Norfolk Southern also pledged to also keep the community updated on the project’s progress through its website nsmakingitright.com. Residents were directed to click the Park Update tab at the top of the home page but the page that the Park Update link redirects visitors to was last updated on April 23.

selverd@mojonews.com

Patio furniture was installed at the East Palestine City Park as Phase 1 of the $25 million renovation projects nears its end. (Photo by Stephanie Elverd)

Sidewalks have been poured and the sand volleyball court installed at the East Palestine City Park as Phase 1 of the $25 million renovation projects nears its end. (Photo by Stephanie Elverd)

Phase 1 of the $25 million renovation projects nears nearing completion. The first phase is still on track to finish by May 29. (Photo by Stephanie Elverd)