LOWNDES PROJECTS LOOK BEYOND PANDEMIC
IMPROVEMENTS AT PARK FACILITIES HIGHLIGHT SPRING AND SUMMER PLANS
If the experts are correct in their projections, the nation’s long pandemic nightmare will be over soon, perhaps as early as summer. The ebb and flow and rhythms of normal life, so long interrupted by COVID-19, will resume. Much of that will include recreation and socializing, two areas of life greatly sacrificed during the public health crisis.
By happy coincidence, most of the projects in Lowndes County are related to those two diversions - everything from a parking lot to accommodate big crowds at the county’s showcase Equestrian Pavilion west of the Tombigbee to a new community center in central Columbus to renovations and upgrades at parks throughout the city.
When “normal” returns for folks in Lowndes County, the county will be ready to greet them.
SIM SCOTT PARK WELCOMES NEW COMMUNITY CENTER
Normally, anniversaries of natural disasters are more observed than celebrated. While the tornado that ripped through Columbus in February 2019 will be solemnly remembered, there was an event connected to the tornado that was cause for celebration.
On February 23, the city of Columbus officially opened its new community center at Sim Scott Park on the site of the original community center, which along with the parks’ senior citizen center next door were destroyed two years ago to the day.
Construction began The 9,000 square foot structure in 2020 with most of the funds for the $800,000 project coming from insurance claims and FEMA.
About 60 percent of the space is devoted to the community center on the east side of the building. The community center portion features a large kitchen and is furnished with new tables and chairs. Restrooms divide the community center from the rest of the facility, which includes two classrooms for summer youth programs and a 1,700 square foot senior citizens center, which has its own small kitchen area and unisex bathroom.
Although it is a metal building the senior citizen center portion was reinforced for use as a storm shelter and has its own entrance.
Mayor Robert Smith said that use of the center will be determined following the guidance of Mayor Tate Reeves as long as the pandemic represents a threat to public safety.
PARKING LOT PUTS FINISHING TOUCHES ON EQUESTRIAN PARK COMPLEX
When Lowndes County supervisors began making plans for a multi-purpose horse park pavilion and office complex on a 22-acre site on Tom Rose Road, they did not neglect the need for the kind of parking needed to accommodate the large crowds they envisioned. For obvious reasons, the parking lot was not the first priority.
That area was part of a two-phase plan, which included a 5,000 square foot office complex that is home to the county’s extensive service office and 4H Club, and 45,000 open area pavilions, large enough to host all kinds of events - everything from horse shows and competitions to trade shows and private events.
When the pavilion opened in January, work on the parking lot had not been started, which turned out not to be much of a problem. A month after the Pavilion opened, the pandemic had arrived, putting all those big events on hold.
Construction on the complex started in early 2016. The $2.6 million complex was funded by $1.6 million in state funds and another $1 million from the county’s hospital trust fund dividends.
CITY PARKS SEE IMPROVEMENTS
While the most ambitious plans to renovate and refurbish the city’s biggest park - Propst Park - are still on the horizon, residents will see some improvements in place by summer’s end.
Although major work on the baseball fields at the park are still a ways off, visitors will note other improvements, including renovations at the parks’ tennis building and large pavilion and walk-way renovations at the adult softball complex. All buildings on park property will be repainted as well.
The summer will see improvements at all of the city’s other parks as well.
East Columbus will have a new playground and pavilion. Hank Aaron Park will have new swings and playground improvement as well as a resurfaced basketball court. Lee Park’s playground equipment will be renovated while Townsend Park will feature a new pavilion. At Sandfield Park, there is new playground equipment, a new pavilion and new LED lighting.
All totaled, the parks renovations come to $208,000, with $200,000 of those funds coming from the county’s annual park funding and the remaining $8,000 from the city’s capital improvement funds.
One city-owned project that isn’t likely to occur by year’s end is repairs to the Old Pedestrian Bridge, which was damaged by a barge in February. Repairs are pending a settlement agreement between the city and the company whose barge crashed into a large concrete pillar, forcing the city to close the pedestrian bridge.
Meanwhile, fencing on the east side of the Terry Brown Amphitheater will be completed by summer’s end.
MONUMENT RELOCATION
By summer’s end, the Confederate Monument that had occupied the southwest corner of the Lowndes County courthouse grounds since 1906 will have been removed, although it’s not clear when exactly the monument will be placed in its new location at Friendship Cemetery.
The Lowndes County Board of Supervisors voted to relocate the monument in July and began taking bids on the project in January. Ultimately, the relocation was designed to be conducted in three phases - disassembly, site preparation/storage and reassembly. The first two stages have been contracted and the monument will be in storage until the reassembly phase contract has been awarded. Supervisors hope the entire project will be completed by year’s end.
STORY BY SLIM SMITH
PHOTOS BY DEANNA ROBINSON
OPENING PHOTO BY CHRIS JENKINS / MUW UNIVERISTY RELATIONS
