The Village of Antioch welcomed its newest addition to the historic downtown area on Saturday, with a grand opening ceremony for Sequoit Creek Park. The once-blighted 4.5-acre parcel drew an estimated crowd of 1,000 people to walk the paths lining the waterway and check out the amenities.
A splash pad, a fully accessible ADA playground, firepits, a concession area with restrooms, a public performance pavilion, outcroppings, and walkways all focus on the restored creek. The parcel was once home to the Pittman Pontiac Motors dealership in the 1970s, a flat landscape that gave way to covering the creek with piping and asphalt. “I couldn’t be more proud to .
.. celebrate one of the most significant accomplishments in our village’s history,” said Mayor Scott Gartner.
“This park is a true gem, it has been transformed into a beautiful space that reflects the natural beauty of our community.” Sequoit Creek Park’s landscaping follows the waterway southeast and is viewed from the intersection of Main and Orchard streets. (Village of Antioch) The Village purchased the property for $110,000 in 2020, after an online survey identified that residents wanted an open space for recreation in the downtown area.
Village officials held a groundbreaking ceremony in July 2023, next to an exposed culvert where the creek had collapsed. Remedial efforts on environmental issues were factored into the equation. Corrective work at the site entailed re-routing the hanging electric power lines.