Back When: Wald Park’s 2014 reset began with a look underground

When city leaders revisited Wald Park in 2014, the beloved community space was showing its age. Baseball fields, the civic center, the pool and the Senior’s Lodge all needed attention.

Councilman Steve Ammons recalled playing there as a child but acknowledged the reality: “We wanted the highest and best use for Wald Park. There is clearly a need for many types of upgrades. We have an aging civic center, pool and lodge area.”

The city created a park committee and launched a three-phase plan. Phase one began with geotechnical testing to examine the ground beneath the park. In July 2014, the council approved $11,500 for Goodwyn, Mills and Cawood to perform subsurface work. Mayor Butch Zaragoza explained why it mattered: “We want to make sure we know what is underneath that ground. We don’t