Parks and Recreation to increase fees for park usage

Inclusive park coming to West Memphis

By DON WILBURN

donaldfwilburn@gmail.com

Under the new leadership of the Parks and Recreation Director for West Memphis, Russell Jones, the department has hit the ground running with plans already being set in motion for upcoming changes. The department held their first meeting on October 31st and discussed several issues and plans regarding the local parks.

The first item on the agenda was the introduction of new staff and Commission Members and Parks Liaison Lorraine Mohammed. Mr. Darrin McCollum was appointed as Chairperson and Ms. Jamie Patterson was appointed as Secretary.

“They are being called the ‘Dream Team’ but I call them the ‘Extremely Great Team’” said Mohammed after witnessing the various topics discussed and enthusiasm during the department’s first meeting.

One of the first items the commission discussed with Mohammed was placing signage along the service road drawing the attention of passing motorists to Martin Luther King, Jr Park and possible enhancements to the the area in the future.

The commission then proceeded to vote unanimously to raise the parks rental agreement from $75.00 to $125.00 and to require a $100.00 deposit that will be returned if the park is cleaned when patrons finish using it. Later in a city council meeting on November 2nd, Councilor Wayne Croom made a motion in favor of the increase, seconded by Councilor Tracy Catt to move forward with raising the parks rental fee once the ordinance is presented to council for their approval.

In that same city council meeting Mayor McClendon gave an update on the

See PARKS, page A3

Parks and Rec Director, Russell Jones, stops for a quick photo with some kids on the newly painted basketball courts at Franklin Park.

Photo by Carolyn Anthony PARKS

From page A1

Inclusion Park at Hicks Park that will benefit children with autism, mental and physical disabilities. The mayor praised Community Development Specialist Raymond Whiteside’s efforts in presenting plans to the State and said it is now in the hands of Governor Huckabee and that after meeting with the governor in Little Rock the day before he feels very optimistic about the grant application submitted for $250,000 for installation of the park. The Mayor also said that the closet inclusion park is currently in Jonesboro and having a special need right here in West Memphis it would benefit our children.

The Parks and Rec Department meets on the first Tuesday of every month at the old West Memphis Public Library near Hicks Park (now the official home of the Parks & Rec Department) and is open to the public.