Blanton Park is nearly finished

Construction continues on the Blanton Circle conversion, which included the removal of the roadway and parking spaces to make way for a green space. Blanton Park will include a pedestrian walkway and a more “green conformance” to the current master plan.

Work began on the conversion on June 18, with a substantial completion date of Sept. 26. King Construction Services and Benton Concrete have been completing weekly tasks since Sept. 11, including prepping and placing sod along the areas around Kearns and Atheneum halls and pouring concrete to complete the fountain and walking areas that will extend from the Kearns Hall entrance toward the middle of Blanton Park.

As of Sept. 28, approximately 75 percent of the landscaping had been completed. Installations of sod and park benches are still in the works.

A substantial completion inspection was scheduled for Monday, Oct. 1. There were items to finalize and punch lists to complete, according to project manager Mark Avant. A full completion date is still being determined, but unlike the HTC Center, no late fees are incurring. In case the conversion isn’t complete by the date of the faculty/staff cookout, scheduled for Oct. 12, the event will take place in the field next to Wheelwright Auditorium, located across from Baxley Hall.