Crews demolish former church

The demolition of the former Parkville Christian Community Church took place Tuesday, leaving the 146-year-old building a pile of brick by the time it was leveled.

The action came just a few weeks after the Park Township Board of Trustees accepted a low bid of $29,000 from Three Rivers-based Roberts Bros. Excavating to demolish the church. Township officials and some Parkville residents had expressed concern about the potential safety hazard posed by the aging structure.

Preservation advocates, however, said the church represented historical value and more time should have been dedicated to seek funding for its rehabilitation.

A crowd of people gathered to watch the demolition, while a portion of Parkville Road was closed during the process as a safety precaution.