CullmanTimes.com, Cullman, Alabama

Local News

March 5, 2009

Flood damage delays River Park opening

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By Tiffany Green

STAFF WRITER

GARDEN CITY — January flooding has delayed the opening of Garden City’s River Park.

“We have had to close it because of some safety issues,” Mayor Harden Davis said. “It has set us back about a year.”

Plans were to have the park opened by this Spring.

The park has been in the planning stages for four year, but just recently work had begun. The park consists of 20 acres located on the Mulberry Fork which is part of the Warrior River.

“There is damage to the walking trail,” he said. “We had a beautiful board walk that was completely washed out.”

The flood washed big trees up and took out major parts of the sidewalk. Davis said trees and flowers had been planted and the ground leveled, and when the rains came, all was washed away.

“We had bulbs planted all around and had monkey grass, but it’s all gone now,” he said.

Davis said Eric Allred, town maintenance supervisor and Bobby Brown have been doing most of the work at the park.

He said they put more than 200 trees out last year at the parks around town.

“Several washed up,” he said.

The bricks used for the walk way were taken from a 100 year old kiln in Garden City.

Also located on the acreage is a natural spring and an old steam engine pump house.

The town has also moved their memorial garden that was at the town hall, to the park. This is an area to remember those who were lost on September 11, 2001, Davis said. It will consist of two ginkgo trees, representing the twin towers; a maple tree to represent the plane that crashed in Pennsylvania, with a heart shaped flower bed around it; and an oak tree to represent the strength of the Pentagon.

The town had applied for a grant for the park, but did not receive it. Davis said they will apply again.

“We will keep trying,” he said.

Davis has plans for a swinging bridge over a small ravine, a restroom area, barbecue pits, picnic tables, an amphitheater and a classroom.

“It’s going to be a really nice park when it’s finished,” he said.

‰ Tiffany Green can be reached by e-mail at tgreen@cullmantimes.com or by telephone at 734-2131, ext. 221.

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