Press release
Over the next few months, the Athens Kiwanis Club and the City of Athens will be coordinating several park renovation and enhancement projects at Kiwanis Park. Athens Kiwanis has set aside $54,000 for the improvements; the City is hoping to match 50 percent of Kiwanis’ contributions, bringing the total project budget to over $80,000.
The first major activity will be to replace the chain link boundary fence that runs around the park play area south of the park parking lot. The new fence will be black ornamental steel fencing and six feet tall. “One major goal of this project is to address several areas of the park that could use some sprucing up,” commented Kiwanis Club Parks Board Chairman, Rik Drummond. “Several areas of the fence are in pretty rough shape and the new fence to be installed will not only look great but it will last for a very long time.” In addition to the fence replacement, the large playground area will also see some improvements, including new plastic timbers, gravel cleanup and maintenance improvements to the playground equipment. Both projects will be immediately underway and look to be completed after the first of April.
Other anticipated enhancements include power washing playground equipment and pavilions as well repainting the park picnic tables. The 2016-2017 Leadership Athens class is making this a primary focus of theirs and will be leading the effort to sand and repaint many of the picnic tables.
Keep Athens Beautiful has also volunteered to help with the project and plans to contribute, via a grant award, several pedestal trash bins, replacing the 55-gallon drums currently in place. The City of Athens will install the bins and also address some other minor issues, including removal of selected problematic trees and vegetation.
In addressing the project, Nasi Kombos, Managing Director of Community Services, stated “This project is a great example of the tremendous impact volunteer organizations can have on a community. Rik and the Kiwanis Club have really put a lot of effort into planning these improvements and coordinating all of the logistics. Its public-private partnerships like this that expand our ability to improve our parks and continue to make Athens a wonderful place to live.” Mr. Kombos also noted that the City is making preparations to install a new swing set at the park, replacing the existing set. The new swing area will also include a swing that provides access for children with mobility challenges. Funding for the swing project will be considered at an upcoming City Council meeting.
For any questions or more information regarding this project please contact Rik Drummond ([email protected]) or the City of Athens at 903-675-5131.