The City of South Bend and South Bend Venues Parks & Arts celebrated the completion of improvements at O’Brien Park with a ribbon cutting on Wednesday, Oct. 14.

“These investments make O’Brien Park and even better place for families to enjoy,” said Mayor James

The project included several upgrades to improve amenities, accessibility and the overall park experience, including:

New splash pad: replacing the previous splash pad, which was reaching the end of its useful life.

New pavilion and restrooms: covered gathering space adjacent to the splash pad and two restrooms with indoor plumbing, replacing the park’s previous pit latrine.

New playground and fitness equipment: two play areas designed for different age groups and an adult fitness area located near the playground.

Parking improvements: repairs, sealing and striping of the existing parking lot and a new asphalt parking area along E. Walter Street where visitors previously parked on the grass.

New sidewalk: along the north side of E. Walter Street connecting Michigan and Fellows streets and providing connections between the splash pad, pavilion, playground and YMCA entrance.

Additional safety improvements: new security cameras and partial fencing around the retention area.

Landscaping improvements: new trees to replace those removed during construction and landscaping around the playground.

In March 2025, the South Bend Redevelopment Commission approved $150,000 for design and construction documents for improvements at O’Brien Park. The Commission later approved $1.7 million in Tax Increment Financing for construction of the park improvements. Construction began in March 2026.

The skatepark was not included in the project and remains unchanged.