Hearing on Brundidge park is today
Published 11:00 pm Monday, July 18, 2011
The Brundidge City Council will hold a public hearing regarding the remediation of the outdoor recreation park at 4 p.m. today at City Hall.
The city is seeking input from its citizens as to what type of recreation park would be most beneficial to the community as it fulfills its obligation to replace the park property that was sold to BEC several years ago.
The original park was built with state funds and must be replaced with an outdoor recreation park of equal or larger acreage.
“The original thinking was to remediate the park on the hill with a walking trail in the Ramage Park area just off Main Street,” said Britt Thomas, city manager. “However, the feedback that we got from some of our citizens caused us to step back and reconsider that idea.”
Thomas said there was concern about the safety of walkers in the area that is adjacent to the city’s baseball/softball park.
The Brundidge City Council is considering placing additional lighting around the track at Pike County High School, which is used by a large number of people who walk for exercise, and also resurfacing the track to make it more serviceable.
“The city has received permission from the Pike County Board of Education to make the improvements to the track but the council will have to approve the expenditures,” Thomas said.
If improvements are made to the PCHS track, that could negate the need for a walking trail at Ramage Park.
However, Thomas said the city has received a written suggestion that a walking trail with picnic tables would be an enhancement to the park.
“At the public hearing, the council will receive input from our citizens as to what they would like to see as far as outdoor recreation,” Thomas said. “The council may or may not make a decision at the council meeting that will follow.”
Thomas said the park issue should be resolved before the end of the year but the city would like for it to be remediated as soon as possible.
All of those who have suggestions about outdoor recreation in Brundidge are encouraged to attend the public hearing at 4 p.m. today.