Gilmore community receives park grant

Gilmore community receives park grant

FUN funds will be used for playground, furnishings

news@theeveningtimes.com

Gilmore has been awarded a state grant to improve its city park.

Mayor Bruce Delaney announced this week that the city will receive $45,000 from Arkansas Department of Parks and Tourism for new playground equipment, benches, and a gazebo for its park on Menesha Road.

The money is part of the FUN (Facilities for Underdeveloped Neighborhoods) grant program which assists cities and counties in developing neighborhood outdoor recreation facilities.

“The whole town is excited about this because the kids do not have anywhere to play,” Delaney said.

Delaney made improving the park one of his top priorities when he ran for mayor.

Gilmore’s neighbor, Turrell, received a similar grant in 2016 and recently broke ground on a new neighborhood park.

The city has already patched up the concrete and re-painted the stripes on the basketball court, but Delaney said the playground equipment is very old.

“We haven’t had any work done on that park in 40 years,” Delaney said. “So this will allow us to buy some new equipment and add a slide and a gazebo.”

Delaney said he expects to begin work on the park in the spring.

By Mark Randall