"If we can get the concrete and everything in and we can get an initial seeding yet this fall, that will help establish the grass and make for a quicker opening — hopefully by July 1 at the latest," Park Ranger Heath Gravert said. "That's the hope, but Mother Nature's got to cooperate."

Mother Nature hasn't been the most agreeable partner this season. Gravert said crews had hoped to pour concrete this the first week in October, but frequent rains pushed back the work. The rains were followed by snow this past weekend.