Community Corner

Expect Centennial Park Path Closures as Improvements Begin

The $75,000 project starts this week.

Bikers, runners and walkers at Ellicott City’s 325-acre can expect a few closures that might force them to turn around while construction begins on sections of the four-mile pathway.

The $75,000 path improvement project at Howard County’s most popular park — home to the Athleta Iron Girl Columbia Triathlon and a host of other athletic events — is expected to begin this week.

County officials said the improvements on the 25-year-old park that attracts one million visitors per year are expected to be done by March 1.

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“I love Centennial Park," said Howard County Executive Ken Ulman in a statement. "As we get ready to celebrate Centennial Park’s 25 years of service to our community, I am pleased we can continue to make the improvements that make it such a showplace."

Path improvements, which include resurfacing, will be designed to get rid of areas of free-standing water, which also create a risk of the build-up of ice. There will also be swales and drainage pipes installed to control erosion issues along the lake’s edge, according to a press release.

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The two sections of the pathway system to be improved include an area in the west portion of the park below the basketball courts and a section located between the west and north areas of the park.

Park officials will place signs along the path and in parking areas alerting of path closures. In some cases, users of the path can take a detour. When detours are not available, users will be required to turn around, county officials said.


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