Construction on the jewel of Garner’s parks system is a month behind schedule, according to the town.
Despite a wet winter, the design and development team for White Deer Park says the project should rebound and open on time this fall.
“December just killed us,” said Fran Robertson of George Raper & Sons, the general contractor for the project. Robertson said rain and snow during the past few months have slowed and occasionally stopped construction altogether.
The most recent snowfall also prevented AT&T from removing a couple of pedestals beside Aversboro Road that will allow the corridor to be widened. The town has yet to reschedule the work.
Designers expect to make up the missed time over the next few months.
“We will keep it rolling,” said Jeff Claus, an associate with OBS, the park’s landscape architect.
On Wednesday, few signs of slowed progress were visible during a Town Council tour of the site with members of the development team. Concrete trucks, excavators and grading dozers traversed much of the 96-acre nature park.
The project broke ground in September. At $4.2 million, the space is the largest capital undertaking in town history.
Located directly across from Lake Benson Park, it will include 2.5 miles of paved walking trails, five picnic shelters, two playgrounds, wildflower meadows and an arboretum. Patrons will be able to follow a greenway that runs through the park and connects to Timber Drive.
The park will also house a “green” nature center for which the town is attempting to attain U.S. Green Building Council Silver L.E.E.D. certification. The building, which will house classrooms and a nature exhibit, is expected to be a model in sustainability, water conservation and low-impact development.
“Much of what we’re trying to do here is educate citizens with things they can take back to their homes and offices,” said Ed Johnson, the project manager for the town.
