Independence Park to open Saturday

By Catherine Kerr
| 2:07 a.m. November 5, 2015

Southwest Orange
News

In accordance with county plans to build parks adjacent to elementary schools in Horizon West, Independence Park will officially open this weekend next to Independence Elementary School.

Residents of Independence have already been using the park, but Orange County District 1 Commissioner S. Scott Boyd and Orange County Mayor Teresa Jacobs will officially welcome the community to a ribbon-cutting ceremony at 10 a.m. Saturday.

“It’s been one of my goals as a commissioner to open up these parks to these communities,” Boyd said. “Now (Independence) will have a place to go.”

The park next to Keene’s Crossing Elementary has been a popular destination for residents of Summerport—particularly the dog park and community garden. The county is planning another park that will be next to the relief school for Sunset Park Elementary that is set to open next year.

Independence Park was designed in the fall of 2014, and construction began in March 2015. Construction cost $556,000.

The park features a playground with slides, climbing poles and swings for children and toddlers. Some sections of the playground are shaded.

Adjacent to the playground are fitness stations with exercise equipment such as a stationary bike and pull-up bars. The park also has an area for dogs, picnic shelter, multi-purpose field and skate park.

Independence Elementary Principal Angela Osborne said the park would be a huge asset to the community.

“There will be times that our teachers take a short field trip to the park to do a science experiment or just to celebrate something special,” Osborne said. “Parks are always viewed as one of the hubs of a community where joy is always expressed.”

Faculty member Allison Olszewski said she also thought the park would provide benefits for students of Independence.

“Many of our students and parents walk to school, so having a community park so close to our campus is truly a bright spot for our community,” she said.

Orange County officials prefer that community members RSVP to the grand opening so that they know how many guests to expect and can provide adequate refreshments. To reply, email [email protected].