City Park getting new name

Published 5:30 am Friday, March 24, 2017

The Cullman Parks and Recreation Department is moving closing closer to its goal of creating Connected Park, but two other older grounds are targeted for major makeovers in the future.

City Park, which covers 1.8 acres at the corner of Main Avenue SW and 2nd Street SW, will be recreated as Art Park in the future, Parks and Recreation Director Nathan Anderson said.

“The plans for the park will be unveiled on April 15. It’s a great conservation project and will include native wildflowers and other plants,” Anderson said. “But it’s also a project, when finished, that will help with some drainage issues for the city.

City Park is also the former home of the department’s main office, which has been renovated and hosts art programs.

Anderson said the park will remain family-friendly and will include new walkways under the plan. He anticipates the improvements will cost up to $150,000, mostly through grants.

NeSmith Park, at the corner of 3rd Street SW and McNabb Road SW, is also on the planning board and will remain an athletic-focused facility.

“What we want is to redesign the park so that people can get better use from it,” Anderson said. “People will still be able to play football, basketball and other sports, but it will be more diverse.”

Connected Park was announced more than a year ago as a $365,000 to convert the old Ingle Park into a playground that serves the need of all children, regardless of their physical limitations.

Dinner on First, a $100-per-plate event in the Warhouse District, netted $20,000 for the project last year. The goal is similar for this year’s event on May 12.

“We also earn money from parking at Rock the South and other avenues. The grating of the land is being done and we actually have some of the equipment now. We’re confident this project will continue and provide a tremendous service to our community,” he said.