Three playset options were presented Feb. 9 in a special county council meeting for Eatonton-Putnam County residents to consider for installation at the recently refurbished Jimmy Davis Park (JDP), near downtown Eatonton.
Putnam County Recreation Director Scott Haley, accompanied by new JDP Grounds Maintenance Supervisor Tweedy Victor Parham, gave a brief presentation before a fully attended commission board led by Chairman Bill Sharp.
Among recent improvements at JDP described by Haley are a freshly paved parking lot (not yet open for use), a fully irrigated playing field, a new, wireless LED baseball scoreboard installed, fencing surrounding most of the outdoor basketball court, a sturdy metal fence surrounding the perimeter of the park under construction, and an improved walking track.
Haley also pointed out Parham has been working extensively on the existing park building, cleaning it up and preparing it for public occupancy shortly. Haley then explained the details of the three playset options, all constructed by BCI Burke Company out of Wisconsin, but sold and installed by PlaySouth Playground Creators in Atlanta.
He said the first would be inserted between the park’s pavilion and walking track, while due to a wider ground footprint, options two and three would have to be installed behind the onsite building – which would necessitate the removal of an existing swing set.
District 3 Commissioner Stephen Hersey spoke up at this point, asking Haley to clarify if it was necessary to eliminate the swings or if they could be moved to another location nearby. Haley conceded that could be an option, but admitted he was unsure of the cost or feasibility involved.
Approximately 30 attendees had the opportunity to vote on the options before a final decision was reached.
Haley said the first option listed for $50,534 installed, number two would cost $45,903, and the third option would be $51,585, with any choice also requiring up to $4,700 in playground mulch to be spread on the ground beneath and surrounding the play structure, within a four-inch-high plastic perimeter.
Answering a query from Putnam resident Charles Trumbo, Sharp revealed that security cameras have been installed at the park to combat vandalism or other potential crimes.
He added that a camera had already caught an unnamed person attempting to vandalize the park, and they were subsequently arrested and now face prosecution.
“I want to be able to go out and enjoy the park, but I want everybody that goes out there to be safe and to have fun and be proud of what we’re trying to put together,” Sharp said as the meeting was winding down. “I think Jimmy Davis would be proud right now of where we are and where we’re going.”
Among the most interested attendees at the meeting were Richard and Karen Garret, among the strongest advocates before both city and county councils for bringing Jimmy Davis Park back from the brink of destruction.
“Even though we had to cause that much trouble to get it there, three years later, it’s there and that makes you feel like it was absolutely worth the fight because that’s exactly what we wanted to see,” Karen Garret said. “And then to get involved as well and to see the next part of it, if we can make it really stay and be the place that, not just for that side of town, but if this side of town goes and uses it as well, that will be fantastic. So yes, it’s absolutely been worth it.”
Her husband agreed, adding, “We’ve been in this room when the county said they didn’t own the park and didn’t want the park or that people were just trashing the place. And it’s night and day now here with words like ‘pride’ and we want Jimmy Davis himself to be proud and his family involved.
“And they want to create a community board (for JDP), which was always something we thought was a good idea,” Richard Garret continued. “So, it just shows if you can just, I think, make a fuss, but win hearts and minds, ultimately get people together, ultimately, I think everyone feels good about this.”
On Monday, Feb. 12, playset option one was revealed via Putnam County’s Facebook page as the top vote-getter at the meeting. Installation at Jimmy Davis Park is expected to begin within weeks.