As reported earlier, Payette’s Bancroft Park is under construction. The park is reportedly getting a new design as part of Payette’s Revitalization Plan. Chairman of the Payette Downtown Revitalization Committee, Ray Wickersham, shared that “The redesign project at Bancroft Park is not using any taxpayer money. It is being funded by ARPA funds designated for this type of project and by a grant received by the Payette Revitalization Committee from the Idaho Department of Commerce.”
The new design will not have a splash pad, but a water feature type fountain that has water spouts that children can run through. It was shared that for most events the water will be shut off and used for vendors, seating and anything else the event may need the space for. Other improvements to the park will include: enhanced lighting, improved access to electricity, and a bathroom. Another change will be the new placement of Payette’s famous “Doughboy Statue”. It will be returned to the center of town, where it was initially dedicated, and will be prominently displayed in honor of Veterans.
Wickersham also shared that Bancroft Park is just one piece of an overall project to revitalize Payette’s downtown corridor. “The Payette Revitalization Committee views this as a first step toward revitalizing our downtown corridor and acknowledges that not everyone welcomes change. However, this concept was presented in several town hall meetings designated for the Downtown area, and the feedback was overwhelmingly positive. To reiterate, this project is not funded by taxpayer money,” stated Wickersham. The attached photos are concept drawings of what the park may look like when complete.
