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A groundbreaking ceremony was held Thursday, March 27 for a new park that will be located at 724 North Main Street in downtown Suffolk. Constant’s North Park is being funded in part through a Land and Water Conservation Fund from the National Park Service and a Healthy Spaces grant from the Obici Foundation. Park Planner Christy Fisher estimated the whole project will take about a year to complete.  

Director of Parks and Recreation Mark Furlo said the park will focus on restoring the natural beauty and ecosystem of the land on the Nansemond River.

He said they will remove the current rock along the shoreline and replace it with a living shoreline to help filter nutrients that flow into the river and encourage oyster beds to grow. The park will also feature a rain garden, an outlook to the river, and 531 native plant species.

“This project has the opportunity to have a real positive impact on our river and the environment itself,” Furlo said.

Fisher said it will be a passive park, which will allow people to walk along trails and sit on benches to observe the land’s natural beauty. 

She added the park will be accessible by two bus lines, by sidewalk, and by the Suffolk Seaboard Coastline Trail. It was important to make sure it would be easily accessible to everyone, Fisher said. 

Mayor Michael Duman said these restorations will strengthen the community’s connection to the environment and allow the area to thrive for future generations ecologically.

Battle Betts, president and CEO of the Obici Healthcare Foundation, attended on behalf of its Board and said this project “is in complete alignment with Amedeo Obici’s vision for creating access to better health and health outcomes throughout Western Tidewater.” 

Councilman John Rector emphasized how the park will be another opportunity to make downtown Suffolk a sought-after destination.

He said the area along the shoreline was once home to many wharfs, warehouses, and other businesses, such as a Honda dealership and an autobody repair shop. Its last commercial use was for the Suffolk Oil Company. 

“Putting a park here seemed like the natural thing to do,” Rector said. “And restoring the shoreline with native vegetation will help restore the balance and smooth the transition from river to street.”

He added that the park should help alleviate some of the flooding caused by the river as well.

“From the time this project was envisioned, it was quite clear that this was more than just the creation of a park. It was an investment in the future of Suffolk,” Duman said. “Our city has always been defined by its ability to balance growth with preservation and progress with tradition. Constant’s North Park will stand as a testament to that balance. It honors our past while embracing a future that prioritizes sustainability, recreation and nature.”