By Ian Thompson | DAILY REPUBLIC | February 18, 2009
Rebecca and Dillon Mince play on the Geopp Park slide as Valentino Jiron, 3, and his mother Corrine John look on. Renovation on the adjacent grass field has recently been completed and once the vegetation has taken root, park officials hope to have it open to the public within 90 days. Photo by Mike Greener
SUISUN CITY - Fences around a renovated Samuel W. Geopp Park won't come down for a while, but the wait is a small price to pay for all the new grass and other landscaping, officials said.
'It will be open as soon as we feel the plants are all rooted in,' said Mick Jessop, director of the city's Recreation and Community Services Department.
That could be 90 days away, 'but we are looking into the possibility of lessening that,' Jessop said.
The contractor is expected to finish all the improvements and sign off on the project in a week.
Once the chain-link fences are removed, residents will get a park with a smooth grassy surface, two half-court basketball surfaces and two new baseball backstops.
The courts have been moved to a location more visible from the streets, making it less likely they will be vandalized and making the area much safer for youth.
Teachers at Dan O. Root Elementary School are also looking forward to using the park.
'It is going to be really nice,' Assistant Principal Linda Barrow said. 'It has been evened out and we are looking at being able to take P.E. classes out there.'
See the complete story at the Daily Republic online.
