Large Crowd Helps Re-open All Star Park

More than 100 residents crowded into All-Star Park & Pavilion for official dedication ceremonies Sunday afternoon and heard praise from town officials and community residents alike for the facility and the community cooperation that made it possible.

Community resident Janet Richardson, whose Mt. Vernon Christian Church Dancing Angels provided entertainment for the assembled crowd, called the upgraded park "a special place."

"It's a blessing," she told the crowd. "It's a blessing that we know our children can come here to play."

Town Councilman R.S. "Butch" Lawter said the project "is unique in the amount of community involvement we've had."

"I remember when I first moved here, this is the first park I came to with my daughters," Lawter said. "I look at it now, and it's amazing. I hope that this will be a place where many happy times will be shared."

The upgrade, paid for through the bond issue for parks and streets approved by voters in 2008, included the new pavilion--a "Bungalow Design" with bathrooms and picnic area at the front of the park, new playground equipment and upgrades to the basketball court and parking lot. Community residents helped guide the project, from design to completion.

Mayor Jody McLeod, who cut the ribbon officially opening the upgraded facility, called it "a whole community effort."

The ceremony attracted several town officials, including Parks & Recreation Director Larry Bailey whose crews worked overtime to get the grounds landscaped and ready for the opening, and many community leaders, including local minister Rev. Terence Leathers who asked the crowd to work together in coming years to keep the park looking good.

"We need to take care of this," he said.

Many in the crowd complimented the design of the facility, including the beautiful brick sidewalk by Brickworker Donnie Baker of the Streets Department.

The park was originally built in 1983.