By IJEOMA OPARA
College Park officials and community members gathered at Duvall Field for a groundbreaking ceremony on Friday.
The ceremony kickstarted the renovation of the field, at 9119 Rhode Island Ave., into a seven-acre park for sports, entertainment and community events.
“This will be a real asset to this community and the whole surrounding area,” Councilmember Alan Hew (District 1) said.
College Park Mayor Fazlul Kabir said the project will include more than a dozen amenities, such as an amphitheater, pickleball and basketball courts, a rugby pitch, and baseball and soccer fields, all added to the design in response to the request of College Park residents.
“Duvall Field is the largest recreational field in College Park, and it has been used since 1960, but the community has been asking for more amenities in it,” Kabir said. “Right now, the only games people play here are soccer, mostly, and sometimes baseball.”
Members of the College Park City Council proposed the renovations in 2005, but inadequate funds delayed the project.
“It is expensive to make these things happen,” Kabir said.
In 2019, the city estimated construction to cost about $5.6 million. That figure rose by a third by 2024.
Hew said the increase in construction costs, combined with the COVID-19 pandemic and some disagreements about which amenities to include, further delayed the project.
“When we thought we were near the end point, stormwater management issues came up that we needed to address, and that set us back both in cost and in time,” Hew said.
In November, councilmembers agreed that further delays would raise the price tag more, and they approved $7.3 million for the renovation.
The ceremony signaled the second phase of the Duvall Field renovation, which officials said will finish by 2026.
The first phase of the project added a recreation plaza, restrooms and a concession stand to the field in 2017.
Councilmember Jacob Hernandez (District 1) told a crowd of approximately 30 officials and residents that the park will be an inclusive space for all residents.
“I think of the future of Duvall Field … [and] I picture a place where seniors can gracefully age in place and just enjoy the largest park in the city and the fresh air that it’ll bring,” Hernandez said. “I know times are difficult right now, and you might not feel welcome, but Duvall Field will be a welcoming place for all.”
Others at the ceremony said they are excited about the renovations.
“I’m really excited that the project is coming to a completion,” Kabir said. “I can’t wait to see that the construction is completed.”
