Home Public involvement needed to help Plan Purcell
News

Public involvement needed to help Plan Purcell

AFP

harrisonburgFans of Purcell Park and residents from across Harrisonburg are needed as City staff plan the future of the popular destination.

The Purcell Park Master Plan recently got under way, and a public forum is scheduled for Thursday, Sept. 5, from 7 to 8:30 p.m. to discuss the process and receive input from residents on what they’d like to see happen at Purcell. The forum will take place at the Lucy Simms Center, 620 Simms Ave., and all are welcome to attend.

The Harrisonburg Parks and Recreation team is looking for thoughts on what new amenities residents would like to see added at Purcell, what they are passionate about preserving and updating, and any other comments about the park’s future.

“It’s incredible to see what Purcell has become over the years – starting with a single baseball field to becoming a key part of the lives of so many in our community,” Parks and Recreation Director Luanne Santangelo said. “We are excited to see what ideas our community comes up with in deciding where Purcell goes from here.”

The master plan will include an evaluation of the current site conditions, amenities and constraints at Purcell before recommending any improvements. The public forum is one piece of a multi-stage discussion that will include additional workshops and meetings, a public survey being launched in October, and presentations before Harrisonburg City Council.

An additional workshop is currently scheduled for Thursday, Sept. 19, from 3 to 8 p.m. beside the Kid’s Castle Playground at Purcell to more closely connect with park visitors.

“Purcell Park is one of our community’s most beloved spots, so it’s very important to us that the park’s future is planned around the vision and enjoyment of our residents and park goers,” Parks and Recreation Marketing and Special Projects Coordinator Brittany Clem said. “So it’s vital to us to get as much input and feedback as possible as we move forward to help shape Purcell’s future.”

The “Plan Purcell” survey will be available on the City’s website and social media pages in mid-October. Input also can be provided by email at [email protected].

Purcell Park is located at 41 Monument Ave. In addition to the Kid’s Castle playground, the park includes three softball/baseball fields, four tennis courts, three picnic shelters, a 1.5-mile walking trail and a pond.

Multimedia

 




AFP

AFP

Have a guest column, letter to the editor, story idea or a news tip? Email editor Chris Graham at [email protected]. Subscribe to AFP podcasts on Apple PodcastsSpotifyPandora and YouTube.

Latest News

shamica spears augusta county
Local

Augusta County deputy in trouble over lip-sync of Lil Wayne’s ‘Mrs. Officer’

WTJU
Region/State

WTJU Jazz Marathon set to celebrate Miles Davis, John Coltrane

WTJU 91.1 FM in Charlottesville will devote a full week to jazz and blues during its 2026 Jazz Marathon, airing Sept. 28-Oct. 4.

American Civil War
Region/State

Fort Collier to host living history Civil War encampment this weekend

The beginning of the end for the guys on the wrong side of the Civil War in the Shenandoah Valley was the Third Battle of Winchester in 1864, which will be the focus of a living history encampment, at Fort Collier, this weekend.

aew logo
Pro Wrestling

Top 10 AEW dream matches that we could see with Ilja Dragunov

acc football
Football

ACC Football: Details on the 12-game schedule for Week 3 that kicks off on Thursday

donald trump golf
Trump's America

Latest Trump impeachment stunt fails: No winners here, on either side

beth macy ben cline
Trump's America

Is Ben Cline calling the Harrisonburg Rotary Club liars? Sure seems like it