Construction crews are converging on Waterfront Park this month as work gets started on a major makeover of the park.

The city council awarded the $1.6 million construction contract for the project last month.

Bainbridge-based Redside Construction has been hired to do the improvements, which include new pathways, terraces, parking seating areas and stormwater treatment facilities.

The controversial picnic shelter was cut from the project.

The park will stay open as construction crews remove dead or dying trees and clear brush.

Also this month, the Bainbridge Island Rowing Club will begin work on its new building adjacent to Waterfront Park.

City officials note that the five trailer parking spaces near the boat launch will be closed for Bainbridge Island Rowing boat storage from early June through September as construction continues for the club’s new rowing center.

The rest of the park will be fenced off and closed on Tuesday, July 5 or soon after.

While closing the downtown park during the busy summer months was criticized by some Winslow residents, city officials said the park renovations needed to happen in the summer months because completing the work during the rainy season would lengthen the project schedule and add to the cost of the renovations.

The park will be closed through mid-November, while the city dock and boat launch will remain open.

City officials also said the Waterfront Trail between the Ravine Bridge and the city dock will remain open most of the time, but a short closure is planned when improvements will be made to the trail near the boat launch.

Brien Drive will remain open to traffic except for periodic closures for construction activities throughout the summer.