New Look, Same Place!

Jackson Memorial Park makes several new additions to their playground, continuing the City of Vienna’s work to create an upstanding public area for the local community.

Wednesday, October 23rd, 2019 @ 13:32 (1:32pm)

VIENNA, WV

A Walk in the Park

Jackson Memorial Park, located adjacent to Jackson Middle School in Vienna, West Virginia, has made a few facelifts over the years. I myself have witnessed these changes over time since going to Jackson Middle School in my formative years, up to Mr. Rapp’s inception into public office as the Mayor of Vienna.

Jackson Memorial Park is accessible from Grand Central Avenue by driving down 34th Street or alternatively, by cruising down Rosemar Road. Amenities include a community building, public restrooms, water fountains, swing sets and other playground equipment for children to play on. It also includes a community swimming pool, picnic shelters available for rent, tennis and basketball courts, baseball and softball fields, and even a designated dog park! Of course, there is also the unique inclusion in the park that distinguishes it from other area parks: A real U.S. military service 1950’s fighter jet.

New Playground Equipment

There are more elaborate projects of a greater scope on the horizon for Jackson Memorial Park, but for now the playground equipment for kids has been the most recent additions.

The playground additions include:

• A rock climbing wall

• A spider-web for children to play on

• Spring loaded surfboard

• New swing sets

• Outdoor exercise equipment

The entrance to Jackson Memorial Park. Photo Credit: Graham Godwin

Future Park Projects

I spoke on the phone just this early afternoon with Steve Black, Park Department Director for the City of Vienna. Mr. Black was delighted to let me know about the new additions to the playground, exclaiming "It's been long overdue. We've had tremendously positive feedback from the community so far."

The park has plans to add an adult outdoor gym, as well as an 18-hole disc golf course, ensuring that grownups will have just as much of an enjoyable time at the park as children.

Mr. Black made it a point to inform me that "We've been working hard to provide the citizens of our local community activities at the park for not just children, but adults as well."

Both of these projects have been in talks over the recent years, and after grant approvals by the Vienna City Council earlier this year, these projects are finally coming into fruition. Expectations are that they will begin construction on the outdoor gym and golf course by next month in November, but Mr. Black told me that "We are already working on the disc golf course currently. We already have about nine of the holes for the course nearly completed."

Mr. Black also informed me of a new sport that's sweeping the nation: Pickleball. Pickleball is a paddleball sport that combines elements of tennis, badminton, and table tennis. Two or four players use solid paddles made of wood or composite materials to hit a perforated polymer ball, similar to a Wiffle Ball, over a net.

Mr. Black said that "Thanks to recent efforts, the tennis courts at the park can now also double as pickleball courts. We currently have 4 outdoor pickleball courts located where the tennis courts are, and the light blue lines we have painted there are non-intrusive to tennis players."

Early November is the target date for the disc golf course to become operational, whereas the outdoor gym is scheduled to open to the public by mid-November.

If you haven’t taken yourself or children up to Jackson Memorial Park recently, check out what’s new the next time you are in the area. The City of Vienna and Park Department Director Steve Black are making wonderful strides to ensure that there is something there for everyone, of any age.