After more than two years of delays, a neighborhood park in Flagler County will finally open Friday.

  • Holland Park to reopen Friday in Palm Coast
  • Park was closed for nearly two years for renovations
  • Last year the city fired the contractors and took over the project

As Palm Coast Mayor Milissa Holland opened the gate to Holland Park Thursday, she said, "It's like night and day."

Holland grew up coming to Holland Park.

"I can remember coming here as a young girl, first coming to Palm Coast in 1987 and really seeing what this park meant. I have very fond memories of this park, enjoying the facilities, basketball, tennis, the racquetball," said Holland.

Now the park that's named after her late father, Jim Holland is re-opening. Park closed signs have been posted since early 2015.

Last September contractors to renovate the park were fired and the city took over. The project took nearly 2.5 years to complete instead of just one, as anticipated by residents and city leaders.

The former contractors said there were unforeseen circumstances that pushed the workers back several times from completing the project before the city parted ways.

Holland said they were all disappointed.

"There's nothing that we didn't talk about almost every city council meeting that did not have to do with the opening of this park. We did every single thing possible in our power to get here, to where we are today," said Holland.

Now she sees what her father, a park advocate, envisioned, including new dog parks, playgrounds, basketball court and many other amenities.

The park has pavilions for events and its baseball park, dugout and tennis court were also rehabilitated during the project.

The city engineer manager, Carl Cote, said the project was a lot of work.

"It was a difficult project, a lot of time and effort went into the whole process. It's a major overhaul of the entire park. That's why we had to close it because it was all new infrastructure, new drainage, new electric, water," said Cote.

The mayor is also excited about phase ll of the park, which will begin in 2 years. The will build up another play area, toddler park, and splash park.

The city said it was able to stay within its roughly $4.7 million budget even with the delays. Holland said it was an honor when the park was first dedicated under her father's name. Now she is pleased to speak at the grand re-opening ceremony with her father in memory.

"I really do feel like he is everywhere when you're looking around at this park. This truly represents the best of Jim Holland," said Holland.

When the park officially opens, it will be open from 6 a.m. to 10 p.m. The grand opening ceremony is Friday evening at 5:30 p.m. at Holland Park in Palm Coast.