Walking trail’s location in doubt

Published 11:00 pm Friday, June 24, 2011

The Brundidge City Council is reconsidering constructing a walking trail at Ramage Park due to concerns about the security of the area.

Brundidge Mayor Jimmy Ramage said the council would like to have the input from the community about the type of park that would be the most beneficial to Brundidge citizens before making a final decision.

The Ramage Park area has been approved by the state as an acceptable site for a park to replace the park that was purchased along with other property by Brundidge Electronics.

Sign up for our daily email newsletter

Get the latest news sent to your inbox

“Back in the 1970s, the city used state grant funds to build a park on ‘the hill,’” Ramage said. “Years later, we sold the property to BEC without realizing that we had to put that same amount of acreage back into recreation. When we were made aware of that, we began to look for about two acres to devote to recreation to replace that park.”

Several sites were considered but final approval was given to the area at Ramage Park.

“We thought it would be an ideal place for walking trails but some concerns have been expressed so I would like for us to get input from our citizens as to what kind of park they would like.”

Ramage said no date has been set for a public hearing. However, he did say that there is a great deal of interest in a walking trail.

“We have a large number of people who walk at the track on the Pike County High School campus,” he said. “It’s in a residential area but it’s not well lighted. The property belongs to the Pike County School System and the board might be agreeable to our putting up some lights around the track. We would have to discuss that with Dr. Mark Bazzell and the school board. But we do have some streetlights that were taken down when we put up the new LED lights and those would be available. That could be a possibility if we don’t put in a walking trail at the ball park.”