Community Inquires About Progress In Reestablishment Of Simms Street Park
Members of the community surrounding Simms Street Park addressed the Lawrenceburg Board of Mayor and Council Thursday morning regarding progress in the reestablishment of the park.
The park was closed by the City of Lawrenceburg on September 1, 2010 in the wake of a shooting that claimed the life of nineteen-year-old Joshua Smith Fox.
At that time leaders indicated that the entire park had fallen into a severe state of disrepair, and that much of the playground equipment posed a great hazard to youngsters.
Within days members of the community began to voice their desire to have the park reopened. A committee of residents was subsequently appointed to assist in the project.
A cleanup effort got underway in November of 2010, in order to prep the site for use as a park once again. At that time city leaders said that the major impediment to completion of the park project was funding.
They expressed their intent to apply for grant funding to offset associated costs. They told community members that the city would become eligible to apply for the grant funds in October of 2011.
A native of the community, Barry Hogues, addressed the council Thursday. He told members that the park needed to be reopened for use by the community. He said that community members are willing and ready to host bake sales and other fundraising events to help with costs.
He said that they are ready to, “Do anything they can do to make this happen and move forward.” He told members that the community is “eager and excited” about the prospect of having the park reopened.
Committee Chairperson Norma Sharp also addressed the council, looking for answers as to why the project no longer seems to be moving forward.
Mayor Keith Durham said that at this point it is not a budgetary issue, and expressed concerns that attitudes about the park “have not changed.”
He said that reopening it at this point might simply cause it to “go back to the same place as it was when it was closed.” He stated, “If we opened it today, I feel it would all go back into the state it was in before it was closed.”
He expressed concern that the park had become a place for illicit activities. “If I had to pick two hot spots in the city, that park would be one of them,” he said.
Council member Jamie Sevier told community members, “Some don’t want it back.” he said that some residents had expressed their desire to have the facility remain closed, or moved to another location.
Sharp pointed out that the park had served as a vital part of the community, providing a place to hold parties, church events and family gatherings. Regarding Fox’s death there, she said, “No one could have anticipated that…We’ll never know what brought that situation there.”
Because of the park’s isolated location, Councilman Ronald Fox said he felt that the park should be reestablished as a “Day Park” only, with usage limited to the day-time hours. Fox said he feels limiting nighttime access would prevent many undesirable activities from being conducted there.
Council member Chad Moore expressed his support for the community’s wishes. He pointed out that holiday activities and formulation of the city’s budget had claimed much of the council’s time during past months, but asserted, “Today I pledge my word in seeing what we can do to get this done.”
Councilman Robin Williams also spoke in favor of reopening the park, saying, “My commitment is to help you get your park back…I’m committed to helping you.”
Moore suggested that the matter be hashed out during an upcoming work session.
