News : Turning losses into landmarks: Celebration Park sign welcomes visitors

Brian Elwick and Allen Merchant make sure the large posts of the Celebration Park sign line up.

Celebration Park, across from First Ave/Highway 150 from the fire station, now has its first sign.

Brian Elwick and Allen Merchant use a tractor to line up the sign's posts.

Allen Merchant and Brian Elwick worked near a driveway that until June of 2008 led to a business along the Cedar River. That business and all of the houses on that block were destroyed by the Flood of 2008.

Now, that area is one of Vinton's newest public areas: Celebration Park. Merchant and Elwick, both employees of the Vinton Parks and Recreation Department, worked with city crews to set up the sign at the southwest corner of that park this morning.

Soon the area will also have park benches, and eventually a bandshell.

The park is one of several areas that has been remade into green space following the flood of 2008. That area was also affected by the July 11, 2011 wind storm. A large walnut tree as well as other trees, were destroyed. The remains of some storm-damaged trees can be seen along the river bank.