Entrance construction to affect park access; Selma board says park building funds are encumbered

Parks and Recreation staff told the Town of Selma Summer Recreation Advisory Board on May 20 that upcoming construction connected to a mulch project will likely occupy the park entrance and limit access for roughly seven to eight months.

Staff described the work as taking up the entire entrance and said they will try to preserve at least one access route to allow staff to mow and maintain fields during construction. No exact completion date was available; staff called the estimate “about 7 to 8 months” and said a precise schedule will appear once construction reaches the town’s contract-scheduling stage.

Board members asked how practices and youth programs would be affected; staff said they have alternative sites and noted that past football practices had been held at Harrison and other fields while Brock Wilson has previously hosted practices. The board discussed contingencies for teams and the possibility of shifting schedules.

Separately, board members discussed a planned new building on park property. Staff said that funds have been encumbered for the current fiscal year and that engineering work is under way — including foundation planning — but that decisions about final placement of the building will determine which park “dreams” are feasible. Board members asked whether planners were coordinating on whole-property layout so that a permanent building’s footprint does not preclude other uses.

Staff indicated an engineer is involved and that the foundation must be installed before further site work. Board members requested additional planning meetings and mapping so they can refine programming ideas tied to the park layout.

The board also briefly discussed the mulch-refresh timeline and confirmed maintenance plans to keep fields and facilities in service where possible during construction.