Norfolk Mayor Kenny Alexander has asked city officials to look into reopening parts of Barraud Park after delays in a planned $4.5 million renovation project.
Alexander expressed his frustration during a council meeting earlier this month. As Parks and Recreation Director Darrell Crittendon gave an Oct. 22 update on park facilities to the council, Alexander said he had received several complaints from residents seeking to use the 25-acre park at 2540 Barraud Ave.
“It’s just unacceptable not to have that open space, that park, available for the residents of Norfolk,” Alexander said during the meeting.
The Norfolk Parks and Recreation Department closed Barraud Park in late 2023 ahead of the planned renovation. The city said in an October 2023 social media post the renovations would take between 24 and 26 months to complete.
A year later, the construction document process is just 20% complete, Crittendon told council members during the meeting. City spokesperson Kelly Straub said in an email this week that the process is scheduled to be completed in February. Crittendon said construction would begin soon after and take 12-14 months to complete.