Demolition of Lions Park swimming pool at Kiddieland in Waco (Aug. 2022): Remnants of Lions Park and Kiddieland are in the midst of being demolished, a process that will last about a month, according to parks officials.
Remnants of Lions Park and Kiddieland are in the midst of being demolished, a process that will last about a month, according to parks officials.
Assistant Parks and Recreation Director Tom Balk said demolition work will continue for most of August, followed by backfill and grading work to make the site more level.
After the dirt work, the fences surrounding the site will come down and it will be an empty green space while the parks department gathers public opinion and develops designs for the park over the following year.
“While we’re waiting for eventual redevelopment, getting the site into a usable, enjoyable condition with grass and trees is the goal,” Balk said.
Demolition of Lions Park is expected to continue for at least a month, clearing the way for the site's redevelopment.
Lions Park, which got its start in 1952, only opened a few days last summer after struggling to rebound from its closure in 2020 because of the pandemic. In July of last year, the city and Waco Founder Lions Club announced plans to start again from scratch on the 11-acre city owned site, in partnership with other community partners. The Lions Club, which has operated the park under a $1 per year lease agreement with the city, auctioned off rides and equipment from the closed park in January.
The 70-year-old park grew into a nostalgic childhood destination for generations of Waco residents. It started as a ballpark meant for teenagers, with new attractions, including tennis courts and a pool, added by the Lions Club and other local organizations that also contributed volunteer time and other resources. The Lions Club added the small Kiddieland amusement park in 1965, and further expansions added go-karts, new rides and a small train circling the property. The swimming pool being chipped away with heavy machinery this week was last open as a short-lived bumper boats attraction in the 1990s.
Workers use heavy equipment to dismantle the old Lions Park pool. The demolition is expected to take at least a month, and the city plans to leave the site as usable grassy space while developing plans for the park's redevelopment.
Once the Lions park site is cleared and leveled, the city plans to leave it open as usable grassy space while plans are hatched for redevelopment.
Workers use excavators to clear out chunks of the old Lions Park pool Thursday, near New Road and Colcord Avenue. Demolition at the park is expected to continue for at least a month. The city plans to then take down the fence and leave the site as usable grassy space while developing plans for the park's redevelopment.
Workers use excavators to clear out chunks of the old Lions Park pool Thursday, near New Road and Colcord Avenue. Demolition at the park is expected to continue for at least a month. The city plans to then take down the fence and leave the site as usable grassy space while developing plans for the park's redevelopment.
Workers use excavators to clear out chunks of the old Lions Park pool Thursday, near New Road and Colcord Avenue. Demolition at the park is expected to continue for at least a month. The city plans to then take down the fence and leave the site as usable grassy space while developing plans for the park's redevelopment.