Fairbanks borough to show Growden and Kiwanis park renovation concepts Nov. 5

Fairbanks North Star Borough Parks and Recreation will show concept designs for new playgrounds at Growden and Kiwanis parks and for improvements to the Growden ballfields at an open house Thursday, Nov. 5.

The open house runs 4 to 6 pm in the Buswell Room at the Carlson Center, 2010 2nd Ave. The department's flyer presents it as two projects: playground improvements at Growden and Kiwanis parks, and ballfield improvements at the Growden Park complex. Residents can look at the concepts and give feedback to Parks and Recreation staff.

The playground work is part of a Growden Park-Kiwanis repair and improvements project in the borough's FY 2027 Capital Improvement Program, adopted Feb. 26. The program lists the project at an estimated $2.25 million: $40,000 for scoping, $250,000 for design and $1.96 million for construction.

The borough's capital plans describe replacing both playgrounds, the Growden picnic shelter and the Kiwanis restrooms, repairing and paving parking lots and improving ADA access. The FY 2025 program also proposed resurfacing about 5.1 acres of parking lots serving Growden and Kiwanis facilities.

Borough budget documents have described a similar renovation since at least the 2021-2022 budget, which also included refurbishing volleyball courts and building an accessible loop trail within Growden Park.