Council seeks park input
An early design for the Dalton Gardens city park plan was presented to council on Wednesday by Councilmember Gary Sonnen. He said this is an early design that may change depending on public input.
City of Dalton Gardens
DALTON GARDENS — Councilmember Gary Sonnen brought an early concept design for a city park during Wednesday's Dalton Gardens City Council meeting.
The park is slated to be located behind City Hall and other city facilities on the corner of Hanley Avenue and Fourth Street.
He said the park idea was brought forward by the previous city council, and the plan is to use ARPA funds to pay for it. Sonnen also said the city could get additional funding through grants.
Council President Tyler Dreschel said the city received an email regarding a community health grant that could apply to the park plan. He said the city has to apply for the grant and have a representative attend a webinar, then the city is eligible for the funding.
He said the initial design calls for a 5-foot-wide sidewalk to loop around the park and a playground would be a central point of the park. Sonnen said the playground equipment can be installed in phases, but said the city can expect to pay $30,000 for the playground equipment.
Sonnen mentioned concrete as a possible surface, but Dreschel said the city could use a slip-resistant surface made of recycled rubber.
“I would like to see what options we have for the surface,” said Mayor Curt Jernigan.
Park benches and tables would be placed throughout the park.
Jernigan said the city needs to take time and make sure it weighs future maintenance costs for the park equipment as well.
Sonnen said the design they have in hand is not permanent because the city wants to hear what members of the public would like to see incorporated into the park design.
The city park is early in discussion phase with no action taken during the meeting, but Sonnen said the city should encourage public involvement.