Bethlehem Park officially reopens on Tuesday, April 1, after more than a year of renovations. The pickleball courts and basketball play areas will be completed in the next couple of weeks.
Improvements at Bethlehem Park include a new 30×96-foot restroom/concession/picnic building, which represents a significant upgrade from the previous structure. The new building features double the number of restrooms, a new kitchen area, two serving windows, and picnic areas on both sides.
Other amenities include a new playground, conversion of two tennis courts to six pickleball courts, half-court basketball play areas, new lighting with steel poles and LED lights, conversion of the large baseball field to a soccer field, new baseball/softball batting cages, new ADA sidewalks and entry, parking lot resurfacing, drainage improvements, and more.
The new playground features areas for ages 0-5 and 5-12, including swings, slides, sensory areas, nature features, and more. The playground has a 20-year warranty.
The total project cost is $2,370,000, which is funded by state-appropriated funds and sales tax revenues.
Bethlehem Park, which is approximately 13 acres, has been operated by Alexander County since the 1970s. The last major update was done on the shelter and playground in the 1990s.