Options unveiled for Mount Vernon's Memorial Field

The future may be looking brighter for Mount Vernon's Memorial Field. The field's gates were shut years ago, but Mayor Richard Thomas says that now has to change. "The state is mandating that we

News 12 Staff

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Jun 9, 2016, 6:30 AM

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Updated 3,262 days ago

The future may be looking brighter for Mount Vernon's Memorial Field.

The field's gates were shut years ago, but Mayor Richard Thomas says that now has to change.

"The state is mandating that we clean it up," he says. "We have no choice but to clean it up."

On Wednesday, Thomas unveiled four options for the field. Option one is slated as the "bare minimum approach," which includes installing new tennis courts and a six-lane, all-weather track.

The $14 million plan also includes things like landscaping and a new grandstand.

Option two would include everything in option one, plus elevated walkways and indoor parking. It also includes space for shops and restaurants and would cost just over $20 million.

For an addition $10 million, option three would have additional parking for 500 cars instead of the 200 option two would allow.

Option four is known as the "start from scratch" approach.

All four options factor in $2 million just to get the field cleaned up. The money to do so is not in the city's budget.

Mayor Thomas is hoping the community can support one of the plans and make Memorial Field the place it once was.