Lebanon will hold groundbreaking Thursday for Route 66 park

Nelson Dream Village foundtain, Lebanon, Mo

The city of Lebanon, Missouri, will hold a groundbreaking ceremony at 10 a.m. Thursday at Boswell Park, according to a story at 417news.com.

The much anticipated construction of a Route 66 themed addition to the southwest corner of Boswell Park will be underway soon.  Some of the planned additions include a new parking area, a Route 66 themed shelter, a re-creation of the Dream Village Fountain, a Route 66 replica drive, and three murals showcasing Lebanon’s rich history on Route 66.

Lebanon residents are sure to enjoy all of the new features of Boswell Park and many believe that the Route 66 Themed Park with its Dream Village Fountain and eye-catching murals will attract people from around the world to Lebanon.  The murals are being designed by Whitehill Enterprises out of Joplin, MO.

City officials and members of the Lebanon Parks Board of Directors and the Route 66 Park ad hoc committee will be at the event.

The city’s park board in August approved about $400,000 in funding for the park. About $323,000 will come from the sale of the Nelson Education Center as part of an agreement to use a part of the money for the park, plus another $75,000 in donations. Fundraising for the latter part is ongoing.

If you wish to make a donation for a Route 66 mural in the park, call Lebanon Area Foundation administrator Melinda Fries at 417-532-8868.

The Nelson Dream Village was built in 1931 along Route 66 in Lebanon. It featured a large fountain with 12 cabins of native stone surrounding it. The motel closed after the Lebanon was bypassed by Interstate 44.

(Hat tip to Eric Tietze; image of Nelson Dream Village courtesy of 66Postcards.com)

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