After more than three years of planning, Magnolia’s large-scale, 30-plus acre Unity Park is finally on track to begin construction this week.

At a November City of Magnolia 4A Economic Development Corp. (EDC) meeting, board members awarded the construction bid to Jordan General Contractors.

“We are very pleased to be awarded the project,” said Jordan General Contractors project manager Pat Green. “We are going to work toward providing a high-quality, long-lasting park for the community.”

The award is a big step for the progress of Unity Park, which has seen a long road on the path to completion.

Jonny Williams, president of the EDC, has been the driving force behind the park and has spent many years trying to make it a reality.

“I’m tickled to death,” Williams said. “I’ve been working on this for three and a half, close to four years. To have it finally get started and be able to bring the community together with the county and the school district and the city and everyone working together, it’s going to a create a lot of pleasure for the community for many years.”

Jordan was picked because it was the lowest bid out of the six or seven bids submitted, Williams said.

“The goal is to create an atmosphere that’s good for the community, but that will also generate sales tax,” Williams said of the project.

As previously reported in the Tribune, Phase 1 of the park’s construction, the cost of which was estimated at $2.5 million, includes paving roadways, clearing land and construction of a pavilion with restrooms and concession.

At an April meeting, the Magnolia city council authorized the EDC to secure funding through sales tax revenue bonds. The park is also funded in part through a grant from the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department (TPWD).

Equally important in the park’s future was the declaration of 23 acres of the park as designated wetlands at a Nov. 23 special city council meeting.

The TPWD has been active in the preservation of the wetlands located on the park grounds.

A plaque will be erected and incorporated on one of the park’s future signs, identifying it as a TPWD project, Williams said.

Williams said he is now looking at May 15 as a completion date for the project and hopes the park will help to bring businesses to the city.

“We’ve still got a long way to go as far as getting businesses to move into the area, but we feel like once we create an atmosphere that’s conducive to business, more will come,” he said. “And that’s the whole thing we’re trying to do.”

Comments (1)

Subscribe to this comment's feed