EAST PALESTINE, Ohio – A renovated area of East Palestine Park will officially open Friday.
The renovated area, part of a $25 million project, includes new tennis and pickleball courts.
The village is reminding those who use the renovated area of the park that the active construction area nearby, which is surrounded by orange or metal fencing, is not yet open to the public. The locations still under construction include the new swimming pool complex, slated to open next year.
Friday’s opening will be a positive step toward the completion of the project. The first phase included the tennis and pickleball courts, as well as the basketball and sand volleyball courts, dog park parking area and a stage for events, which are nearing completion as well.
Current plans for the second phase include the Olympic-size pool area and pool house, and the third phase will include reconstruction of the playground, renovation of the brick pavilion and additional parking.
The park project is part of the village’s settlement with Norfolk Southern after the Feb. 3, 2023, train derailment. The project is in addition to Norfolk Southern’s $22 million commitment for the village to use for other projects and $13.5 million already spent to replace village fire and police equipment and vehicles, make improvements to the village’s water treatment plant and renovate the historic East Palestine train depot.
According to Norfolk Southern, restoration at the site of the derailment is largely completed, with the expectation it could be completed within weeks if weather allows. Mitigation work continues in Sulphur and Leslie Run, where sheens were identified during reassessments in March and April. That work is also slated to be completed in the next few weeks and will be followed by a final stream assessment.
Residents awaiting their portion of the $600 million settlement with Norfolk Southern continue to wait for the completion of an audit, which was ordered by Judge Benita Pearson in June when she ruled Epiq Class Action & Claims Solutions Inc. would replace Kroll Settlement Administration LLC due to concerns that the distribution payments were miscalculated.
Pictured at top: The new tennis courts at East Palestine Park.
Editor’s note: This article has been updated to correct that the basketball courts are not part of Friday’s opening.