Public ‘has taken ownership’ of Moultrie’s newest park

Published 11:09 am Friday, May 6, 2016

MOULTRIE, Ga. — A little over a year after it opened, the new city park on South Main Street has proved some folks wrong and is a pleasant surprise to others.

When talk began of the park, there were those who said it would become a nuisance, and it would just be another venue for drug traffickers. The Moultrie Observer’s Rants and Raves column showed both the negatives and positive commentaries during that development. But the negative perception has not been the case.

The city’s parks and recreations director, Terry Peek, said, “The public has taken ownership of it.” As well, regular police patrols and surveillance cameras add to the security factor. The bottom line: Many people are enjoying the park in a safe, clean venue.

The facility is seeing use throughout the day and from a broad cross-section of the community.

Peek said actually more people from out in the county have reserved the picnic shelter than people inside the city limits. He said that ratio surprised him but noted that it’s a good thing that it’s being perceived as a community asset. In the past year, Peek said 105 reservations were made for the picnic shelter.

In addition, United Way and the Moultrie-Colquitt County Library have sponsored reading and puppet shows at the park. More are planned for this summer. Peek said the city’s website has a quarterly schedule of events.

Also, elementary schools have been bussing students to the park for outings and field trips. They bring a sack lunch and enjoy the fresh air and physical activities. And at least one Neighborhood Watch Group meets there regularly — another occurrence that likely affects the security factor.

“We’ve had no complaints about noise or an abundance of cars or anything like that,” said Peek. He said residents were assured from the getgo that there would not be concerts and festivals that would create a concern for the neighbors.

As for the public taking ownership, he noted on one occasion that he saw a woman walking about the parking picking up trash. She did not work for the city nor was she doing community service.

“She said it’s a nice park, and I want to do my part,” she told him.

At the moment there are no plans to add any more playground equipment although more benches and picnic tables will be added in the next 30 to 60 days. Peek said the park’s usage will be evaluated regularly in this regard.

The park was officially dedicated in January of 2015. The property was the site of the former Vereen Memorial Hospital. The City of Moultrie purchased the property from the hospital authority, and citizens forming the Main Street Park Group raised $165,000 toward its development.