Take a look at Forest Acres Mall Park project as city releases new renderings

It’s only been two years since the recently completed demolition of Richland Mall began, but Forest Acres local Ellis Creel said he’s wanted to revamp the site since he began his 10-year tenure on the City Planning Commission.

“It was pretty much derelict,” Creel said. “Seeing it become a mixed use facility and abutting our awesome park that we’re gonna have is just awesome.”

One part of larger residential and retail development, the six-acre Mall Park and Amphitheater portion of the redevelopment plan is taking shape as city officials announced design changes and plans to put the project up for bid in the fall.

Forest Acres Mayor Thomas Andrews wrote the planned park as a potentially community-defining addition, with leaders saying they saw it as a chance to establish what they hope will become a landmark, in a news release.

“This is the kind of project that can define a community for generations,” Andrews wrote. “We have the opportunity to create something that feels timeless and authentic to Forest Acres. We want people to walk into this space years from now and feel like it has always been here.”

The release noted materials such weathered brick, iron detailing and bronze accents will be used with the goal of emulating a classic Southern architectural style. The park will include facilities like public restrooms and features such as seating and the amphitheater, which received the bulk of design updates.

The release described the amphitheater as being updated from an oval-shaped roof to the more traditional style seen in the renderings, with Mayor Pro Tem and Councilman Haskell Kibler noting they wanted it to be up to modern event standards while still fitting the park’s classical design philosophy.

Ellis said he feels the event space fills a clear void in Forest Acres.

“I think the park is arguably the most important part of the development,” Ellis said. “Forest Acres doesn’t really have a centerpiece park where we can have all our events and stuff. We have to use places like AC Flora or smaller parks like the Gills Creek park, so this is going to be huge.”

Technical adjustments have also been made following updated engineering and floodplain analysis of the cleared site. These changes include structures being reoriented in light of the floodway and two structures being combined into one.

The release said after the project is put up for bid to construction firms this fall, the city hopes the park can be completed approximately 12 to 18 months after breaking ground.