By Eric Stevick
Herald Writer
ARLINGTON — The Arlington City Council took another step Monday toward opening a park next spring that will be run by the city and school district.
The park will become part of the Pioneer Elementary School campus, which is scheduled to open next fall. Construction of the new school in the Gleneagle neighborhood is well under way.
Pioneer represents the first time the city and school district have shared the operation of a park. It will include a field that, depending on scheduling, can be used for soccer or two softball or Little League diamonds at any one time.
Also to be developed on the four-acre parcel is an environmental education trail through wetlands.
On Monday night, the council approved an agreement that will continue a "joint operating committee" that was formed in 1998 for the park at Pioneer Elementary. The amended agreement recognizes changes made to the plans for the site over the past four years.
At one time, for instance, the committee considered including a public safety facility in the project, but that didn’t pan out.
The grounds will be open first next fall as part of the school and then as a park the following spring. The extra time will give the grass longer to take root, said Rob Pattermann, an assistant school district superintendent overseeing the Pioneer school construction.
The city and school district will split the cost of maintaining the park, according to a copy of the agreement. It will be open to the public after the school day, which is defined as 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. in the documents.
"For us, it is an opportunity to not only upgrade our field but to work with the city to bring more fields for Little League, (softball) and soccer use," Pattermann said.
With the support from the city, the district was able to include extra features, such as backstops and dugouts.
Although the cost of maintenance will be split, the school district will do the actual work, said Kristin Banfield, the city administrator.
"The school district will maintain it," Banfield said. "All the city has to do is write (a) check."
You can call Herald Writer Eric Stevick at 425-339-3446 or send e-mail to stevick@heraldnet.com.
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