Private Donations Pay For Holmberg Work

Engineering work has already begun on improvements planned this year at Holmberg Park.

Private, anonymous donations of $89,450 will pay for new basketball and tennis courts at the park on Wall Street near Holland, said Wyn Birkenthal, manager of the county parks department. Work on the project could start in April, depending on the contractor’s schedule, and should take about two months to complete.

The park will also get a sewer connection, estimated to cost about $55,000, at about the same time.

The Holmberg Park pool, one of three that the county threatened to close last year because of leakage and safety concerns, should have no trouble opening this season. Last year, the county spent about $170,000 on repairs to three of four county pools.

The Holmberg pool also will get $60,000 in handicap accessibility improvements this fall to meet federal requirements.

The parks department will hire a person this year who will monitor the pools and do preventative maintenance, Birkenthal said. The job will be paid for by the county’s general fund.