MOUNT JACKSON, Va. (WHSV) – The City of Mount Jackson has made some changes to its future park plans. City Council has amended its park and pedestrian connectivity master plan to reduce future aquatic center projects as part of the expansion of the Lions Park.

Instead of an aquatic center, the city will create a wellness center for seniors.

“There will be a zero-entry therapy pool, a fitness center, a chiropractic and physical therapy room, so it will be more of a service to the community and will reach more people,” said Olivia, city manager from Mount Jackson. Hilton.

The changes were made to reduce the cost of expanding the park.

“The main goal was to not have a major impact on our taxpayers, which is why we moved slowly and steadily to win the race. So originally all our dreams were about $23 million and by removing the aquatic center we brought it down to about 12 (million),” Hilton said. “On a 10-year plan, we’re going to be able to save about a million dollars a year and so it won’t really have an impact on taxpayers, which is pretty wonderful. We have some new developments on the horizon, so ideally we’ll tax people who are moving to town rather than those who are currently here.

Hilton said the first two elements of the Lions Park expansion will be adding a secondary entrance to the park off Route 263 and building permanent restrooms.

“The biggest thing we’ve heard in citizen surveys is the end of porta-potties, we want a real bathroom. So that was real action number two, so the bathrooms and the secondary entrance. The game plan is to do everything at Lions Park in about three years,” she said.

Some of the new additions will include a splash pad, disc golf, new walking trails, skate spots, as well as tennis and pickleball courts. The hope is to install the toilets in the park by summer 2025.

The city is also seeking funding for its new riverside park.

“We are applying for a river park grant this winter, which should actually fund about $220,000 for the river access park. As soon as that is complete, we plan to finish the entire project within a year, so we will also launch the kayak and canoe this spring,” Hilton said.

Olivia Hilton said work on the expansion project would begin within a year.

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