TOLEDO, OH (Toledo News Now) - While many people will be watching fireworks downtown at Promenade Park, the city is preparing for the next phase of improvements in Toledo's "front yard."
It's a $2.2 million project to double the size of Promenade Park.
Last year, crews hauled in tons of soil to build a gradual step-down of the new park section from Summit Street to the section of Water Street vacated for the project.
Now, the city will begin more work following the 4th of July holiday weekend, to continue the overhaul of the park all the way to the riverfront.
Al Bishop says he likes what's going on there, including efforts to increase amenities for boaters.
"Mike Bell's made a commitment to doing this. He's done a wonderful job. He's bringing a lot more people down that normally wouldn't come down. It's been a very positive thing," said Bishop.
Larry Staler says for the most part, he thinks it's good for downtown.
"By filling in all that space, it made the park even bigger," said Staler.
Staler says his only complaint is about the city planning to cut down bushes to improve the view from the top of the park to the bottom.
The city continues to look for private sponsors for other phases of future park upgrades, including sponsors for a new performance stage area.
