The effort to rejuvenate Bug House Park is being supported by the Washington Area Historic Foundation.

During its meeting Monday, Washington’s City Council could discuss a memorandum about what the foundation wants to do at the park in southeast Washington and next to Jack’s Creek.

The foundation plans to upgrade the park’s center signage area by reconditioning the soil and planting liriope, lantana and knockout roses to enhance the entrance to the park. Also, the foundation will donate benches for the park. One bench has been purchased. The foundation is raising money to buy a second bench, according to a city document. The benches will match the ones in Harding Square at the southern terminus of Market Street.

For at least a year, city officials talked about improving Bug House Park, including repairing or replacing the park’s deteriorating tennis courts. In June, during a discussion about the park, City Manager Bobby Roberson told the council the contractor hired to resurface the tennis terminated the contract, so the courts remain in disrepair. Roberson also said the Washington (noon) Rotary is interested in helping rehabilitate and improve the park.

As for dealing with the tennis courts, that’s an issue the city will revisit, possibly coming up with “another quote-unquote adaptive reuse” of the space where the courts are located, Roberson said. Bug House Park, with improvements, could become a complementary park to Havens Gardens, he said.

The site once housed the Bug House Laboratory, later called the Washington Field Museum. “We want to get a historical perspective about Bug House Park. As you well know, during World War II, it was the largest amateur collection of bugs in the southeastern part of the United States. … What we want to do … is to actually do some in-fill with bugs in the park — for playground equipment. One would be a like a butterfly or like that,” according to Roberson.

Removing the chain-link fence at the park is being considered because it poses problems for city maintenance crews. Roberson said adding additional playground equipment at the park is another option being studied. “Our best move to improve Bug House Park would be to add some additional swings and equipment,” Roberson said.

Mayor Mac Hodges said representatives of the Washington Rotary approached him about working on a project with the city that would benefit city residents. Hodges said he recommended the club help the city rehabilitate Bug House Park. Hodges said the city would develop the plan for the project, with the club helping fund its cost.