Stutz Excavating employees work on the new Alton-Godfrey Rotary Park earlier this year at the corner of Third and Easton streets across from Alton City Hall. When completed, the park will include a plaza and amphitheater-style seating for about 200 people. Construction of the park coincides with the club's centennial year.
ALTON — Work continues on Rotary Park in Alton, with completion expected later this year.
The park, located at the corner of Easton and 3rd streets in Alton, is a joint effort of the Alton-Godfrey Rotary Club and the city. It will feature hillside seating, shade trees and greenery surrounding a circular plaza bearing a six-foot custom inlay medallion of the Rotary symbol.
Amphitheater-style limestone seating around the plaza will accommodate up to about 200 people for weddings, picnics, concerts, classroom instruction, meetings and other events.
According to Piasa Foundation President Bill Moyer, construction of the park has had many delays, noting its initial completion was projected by the end of 2021.
Ground was broken for the park in October 2021. But construction did not begin until June of this year.
Since then, the concrete for the plaza has been poured and organizers are waiting for the limestone seating to be delivered.
"Anybody will be able to use the park," Moyer said.
The Alton-Godfrey Rotary Club formed in 1921 with 25 members. It remains active throughout the year, with events such as the Alton Christmas Tree, the Student of Year scholarships, Interact Clubs at Alton and Marquette Catholic High Schools and youth programs.
The park is the latest addition to the Riverbend by the club. It also has helped provide landmarks such as fountains, the Robert Wadlow statue, the Lincoln/Douglas sculptures, the Gordon Moore Park Hosta Garden, the YWCA playground, the riverboat mural, the Haskell Park pavilion, the Riverfront Park bike trail extension and Lavista Park Disc Golf tee pads.
Dylan Suttles joined The Telegraph in Alton in January 2019. He covers Alton, Godfrey, education, health and new businesses in the Alton area.