HARRISONBURG, Va. (ROCKTOWN NOW) – The City of Harrisonburg is another step closer to developing a downtown park near the Turner Pavilion.

Harrisonburg City Council were presented with a concept and design for the ‘Build Our Park’ project, which includes a permanent stage for live entertainment and public art spaces. They approved the design with a four-to-one vote during their meeting Tuesday night.

Council member Monica Robinson cast the lone ‘no’ vote, as she was concerned about equity with the park’s usage.

“Although I love the idea of a center park for all, the downtown park concept, I really question the use of the park as a tool or the park having the capabilities of pulling in those other marginalized communities,” Robinson said. “And I don’t want it to be a park that makes us feel more apart than we are together.”

The project will need to go through several more rounds of votes and public hearings before the park can get final approval from city council.

Funds for electric buses

As expected, Harrisonburg City Council unanimously approved a supplemental appropriation of $600,000 for the School Transportation Fund.

The City’s Finance Director Larry Propst explained to council during last night’s meeting that the funding will help in the purchase of three new electric school buses.

“The cost of these buses is a little over $400,000, so this grant covers about half of it,” Propst said. “And then, in addition to that, just to take note – we will be planning to use these purchases as part of the IRS direct pay tax credits. So we’ll get, on top of the $600,000, a little bit more.”

Once the new buses are purchased, the city will have five electric school buses.

Incidentally, the three buses that will be replaced by the EV buses, must be destroyed as part of the agreement with the Environmental Protection Agency.