Turner Street Park is set for another round of major improvements, thanks to a newly awarded $500,000 grant from the Georgia Department of Natural Resources Land and Water Conservation Fund.
The funding comes one year after the park celebrated the opening of its $600,000 community center—an addition city officials say has already increased daily use and community events at the four-acre urban park.
With the surge in visitors, Cedartown leaders began gathering input from residents to determine what upgrades were most needed.Those requests are now taking shape.
Planned improvements include a splash pad and bandstand, a combination sport court, a “grill and chill” gathering space, a large picnic shelter, pavilion pad and footings, restriped parking areas, accessibility upgrades, electrical and drainage work, and new landscaping throughout the park.
City Manager Edward Guzman said the expansion is a natural next step following the success of the community center.
“The park has seen a marked uptick in visitors over the past year, and we want to continue to grow that momentum by providing additional things to the park that will really make it a stand-out attraction for our community,” Guzman said.
Cedartown Commission Chair Sam Branch praised the residents who helped shape the project.
“A project like this is exactly how local government is supposed to work,” Branch said. “A community has an idea, they tell us what they are looking for, and we figure out how to make that happen.
This success belongs in large part to the Turner Street community and their desire to see a plan come to fruition.”Branch noted the improvements will create new opportunities for gatherings and celebrations—from birthday parties to reunions and neighborhood events.
The upgrades are expected to begin in the coming year.
