Bethlehem Park will be closed to the public for renovations beginning on Friday, March 1, 2024. The closure is necessary while park improvements are completed. The park is expected to reopen by the spring of 2025.
Improvements at Bethlehem Park will include a new restroom/concession/picnic building, a new playground, resurfacing of two tennis courts, conversion of two tennis courts to eight pickleball courts, two 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 current building at Bethlehem Park is 36×24 feet, while the new structure will be 96×30 feet with double the number of restrooms, a new kitchen area, two serving windows, and picnic areas on both sides.
The new playground will replace the existing play area, with areas for ages 0-5 and 5-12, including swings, slides, sensory areas, nature features, and more. The playground will have a 20-year warranty.
The total project cost is $2,355,000, which will be funded by $750,000 of state-appropriated money and $1,605,000 of Article 44 sales tax money, with no local general fund tax dollars used.
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.