Upgrades at Mike Wood Memorial Park nearing completion

Renovations at Mike Wood Memorial Park are nearly complete.

Work is scheduled to be finished next week. Improvement projects include a new sign at the entry way and 13 exercise stations along the walking trail. A large canopy area was also constructed for visitors to host picnics, birthday parties and other events.
 The park already has a walkway, Frisbee golf course, swimming pool, basketball and tennis courts.

The upgrades cost approximately $300,000 and were done to improve the park’s aesthetics and quality of life for local residents.

“By providing the exercise stations, we’re anticipating more people utilizing the walking trail in the park whether it’s for health benefits or just enjoying a day out,” said Mark Natale, Public Information Officer for the City of Bossier City. “The sign at the entry way improves the look of the park and makes it more pleasing to the eye.”

Last year, a judge ruled that Bossier City upheld its portion of a settlement between the city and local real estate and development company U.L. Coleman Companies. The real estate and development company filed a motion in U.S. District Court arguing that the City of Bossier City was not living up to the terms of a lawsuit settlement between the two parties.

The litigation stemmed from a consent decree and cooperative endeavor agreement (CEA) between U.L. Coleman Company and the city following the settlement of a 2008 lawsuit over the city not allowing the company a curb cut on the Arthur Ray Teague Parkway for its Walker Place development. That agreement required the city to contribute to a redevelopment of Barksdale Boulevard and neighborhoods in south Bossier, a new public park next to the CenturyLink Center, and a walking bridge to the park spanning above the parkway.

Mike Wood Memorial Park is located at 2200 Dennis St. in Bossier’s Shady Grove neighborhood.