Holiday light display expansion and more in the works at Freeport Community Park

As if Freeport Community Park hasn’t sparkled enough lately with renovations, park officials are trying to expand its drive-thru Christmas holiday light display.

The 95-acre park was established in 1965 by Freeport Brick Co. owner Francis “Dutch” Laube Jr. but went downhill after he died in 2000, Freeport Mayor James Swartz said.

The park is owned by the nonprofit Freeport Community Park Corp. Another nonprofit, Restore Freeport Community Park, established nine years ago, continues its fundraisers such as a blockbuster Valentine’s Day dance that sells out with 450 patrons annually.

The money has paid for fixing roofs, clearing brush, planting trees, asphalting and resealing courts, renovating the pavilion, installing scoreboards and two sand volleyball courts and more.

So now what?

First, volunteers can pitch in next month to help clean up the park pavilion. Restore Freeport Community Park day will start at 9 a.m. on May 7. No registration necessary.

Longer term, plans are in the works to expand the holiday lights during the Christmas season in the park for a drive-thru light display, said Jeannie Nesbit, president of Restore Freeport Community Park.

In recent holiday seasons, the two nonprofits have strung lights in the park. Some of the sports leagues also decorate their fields for the holidays. People have liked it, and Nesbit and others want to do more. The nonprofits are working together on the project.

“We plan to keep making the park better,” Nesbit said.

One of the people involved in the project is an experienced light display artist, said Dennis Montgomery, vice president of the Freeport Community Park Corp.

“It’s going to be a cool and real upgrade from what has been done in the past,” he said. “We’re not trying to be Kennywood or Hartwood Acres — we’re trying to make it as good as we can.”

Although the mayor isn’t sure about the magnitude of the light display this holiday season, he does know that it will attract visitors to town.

“It will bring traffic to Freeport and its businesses that are open at night,” he said.

While excited about the prospect of bringing more people to the area, Swartz flagged the condition of the park roads leading to the baseball fields.

“They need to be in better shape,” he said.

The park never will be in the shape Mr. Laube had it in, Swartz said.

“There wasn’t a blade of grass out of place, it was that well-kept,” Swartz said. “But it’s getting better, much better.”

More information about Save Freeport Community Park can be found on its Facebook page.