The City of Bartow is celebrating the grand reopening of Richland Manor Park today with a special Community Gathering taking place from 11:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. at the park, located at 920 Bear Creek Drive.
The event marks the completion of the city’s $3.3 million Parks Reinvestment Program. Improvements at Richland Manor Park include rebuilt tennis courts, four new pickleball courts, new playground equipment with rubber mulch, and a new restroom facility.
The celebration includes a cook-out offering hot dogs and drinks. Remarks are scheduled for 11:30 a.m. by city elected officials, City Manager Mike Herr, and Parks, Recreation & Cultural Arts (PRCA) Director Jason Hargrove. The event is free and open to the public.
The Parks Reinvestment Program was identified as a priority by City Manager Mike Herr following the start of his tenure in January 2023. Projects were selected by the PRCA department under Director Jason Hargrove and overseen by PRCA Assistant Director Kyle Lasik.
Total project investment reached $3,659,304.47, including contributions from the Bartow Community Redevelopment Agency ($603,189 for two public restrooms) and the Bartow Kiwanis Club ($25,000 for Civic Center kitchen renovations). The final cost came in $256,511.53 under budget.
City-wide improvements completed under the program include:
- Polk Street Community Center
Outdoor basketball goals, concession/press box painting, baseball dugouts - Over the Branch Park
New restroom - MLK Gazebo Park
New restroom, grill - Bartow Civic Center, Pittas Park, and Mosaic Soccer Field
Baseball lighting (LED), backstop fencing, shed and tennis court building painting, kitchen renovation, new tennis courts with lights, tennis court bleachers, Mosaic Soccer Field restroom, Mosaic Stage painting, removal of unplayable shuffleboard and outdoor basketball court - Carver Recreation Center
Playground steps and platforms, fire alarm panel, interior painting, AC unit, roof replacement (South Building), kitchen renovation, Christine McCoy Room and kitchen flooring - Bartow Sports Complex
555 football fencing, football goal posts, RC track fencing, RC track pole barn - Mary Holland Park
Main entrance fencing, picnic tables, pavilions/restroom painting, playground surface, rubber mulch, new restroom by dog park - Summerlin Park
Restroom painting, basketball court - Richland Manor Park
Playground equipment and rubber mulch, new restroom, athletic courts (tennis and pickleball) - Downtown Bartow
New restroom
The city stated that the program addressed long-standing maintenance needs across multiple parks and facilities.
SOURCE: CITY OF BARTOW
