Community Corner

Forest Park Closes as Construction Begins

The Lake Forest park is expected to be closed for the first phase of construction from Sept. 3 to Nov. 22.

Lake Forest’s Forest Park will close Sept. 3 as the first phase of construction gets under way. The area, located at the top of the beach, is expected to remain closed to the public through Nov. 22.

During that time, the ring road will be rehabilitated, the storm sewer, electrical and lighting systems will be replaced and the south parking lot will be improved. 

“This critical work will require some inconvenience over these fall months and we greatly appreciate your patience as we move this project forward,” Forest Park Project Corporation President Ralph Gesauldo and City Manager Robert Kiely wrote in a joint letter to residents. “It is important to note that we will be fencing the perimeter of the park and that there will not be access to the ring road or upper south parking lot, and no access across the park to the wooden walkway and stairway to the belvedere. However, both roadways down to the beach will remain open, and the full beach level will be available for resident enjoyment.”

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The ring road is expected to be open to pedestrians during the winter, allowing limited park use until the second construction phase begins in the spring, they wrote in the letter.

The work is in line with the master plan for the park that was approved in 2012 to rehabilitate, improve and preserve the land. 

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Residents can visit www.forestparkproject.com for more information about the project or email Peter Cherry at pbcy@me.com with questions about the infrastructure construction.


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