The soil has been turned and crews are on site to begin construction of the half-million dollar Central Park improvement project.

On Friday, the City of Merritt held a groundbreaking ceremony, which drew about 40 people to the future site of Central Park’s 200-by-85-foot lacrosse box.

The lacrosse box will come equipped with lights, basketball hoops and a multi-purpose playing surface that can be flooded and used as an ice rink. The lacrosse box is being built on the current site of the sand volleyball court, which will be relocated to Rotary Park.

In addition to the lacrosse box, the improvement project will see the current washrooms at Central Park removed and replaced by a new 1,100-square-foot washroom and concession building.

Excavation at Central Park will begin Wednesday and the construction areas have been fenced off, but people can still use the rest of the park.

Blueprints for the washroom and concession building were on display at the groundbreaking ceremony alongside the plans for the new lacrosse box (below). Michael Potestio/Herald

Blueprints for the washroom and concession building were on display at the groundbreaking ceremony alongside the plans for the new lacrosse box (below). Michael Potestio/Herald

City of Merritt leisure services manager Larry Plotnikoff told the Herald the construction begins as the last tournament of the year booked for

Central Park was held this past weekend, and no other events are being booked at Central Park until the spring. The current washrooms are no longer available for use, he said.

Project manager Don Campbell of Ice Developments — the contractor for the project — told the Herald that come December, Merrittonians will be able to ice skate at the multi-purpose lacrosse box. Campbell said the lacrosse box will be equipped with lights to allow for use at night.

The project is expected to be finished by the end of 2014.

Campbell said the sand volleyball court will be moved first, and then excavating the site of the lacrosse box will begin. After that, the area for the concession stand will be excavated. The sand volleyball court will then be set up at Rotary Park, which will also have its construction area fenced off. Construction of the lacrosse box will be underway after that, he said.

Merritt Mayor Susan Roline told the Herald it feels great to see this project take its first steps, especially the replacement of the washrooms as the current ones are not suited for people with disabilities.

“It’s going to be nice having proper facilities in one of our busy, busy parks,” Roline said.

She said people have volunteered both their labour as well building materials, which should help keep costs down.rink_blueprint_web

Campbell said the company is still figuring out how volunteer workers will be used, but said they will likely be called on to set up the boards of the lacrosse box.

A local hotel owner even donated rooms to house workers for the duration of the project, he said.

Rose Grant, president of the Nicola Valley Minor Lacrosse Association, told the Herald the new facility will allow the association to start its season a month early, meaning the lacrosse season will kick off in March rather than in April.