DMC Corp. Board Chairman R.T. Rybak said it’s a proposal worth considering.
“I do believe we should think very strongly about connecting to Soldiers Field,” he said, adding that the connection would provide additional paths to other parts of the city.
As originally proposed, the Discovery Square project stretches from Second Street Southwest to the north side of Seventh Street Southwest. It’s being designed as a public parkway that would encourage pedestrian activity, as well as some planned programming.
Patrick Seeb, executive director of the DMC Economic Development Authority, said the connection to the city park would also help highlight its proximity to downtown, which would add to the number of accessible activities for patients and visitors, as well as local residents.
“There is no pin on a map for a lot of these projects,” he said.
Some of the largest expenses for the year, however, are planned for specific parks, including $375,000 dedicated to the next phase of work at Cascade Lake Park and $300,000 to install a spray pad and warming house at Lincolnshire Park in Northwest Rochester.
Another water feature is planned for Southeast Rochester’s McQuillan Field, which will use $275,000 to add a spray pad and ball field in connection to a planned land exchange with the Rochester School District.
The Rochester City Council unanimously approved the plan, but members also expressed concerns about future spending of the referendum funds.