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Aug 30, 2023

Parks board approves removal of safety hazards, structures from Firemen’s Park

The Graham Parks and Recreation Board this week directed the City Parks Department to continue removal of safety hazards and other structures from Firemen’s Park. Some items which were approved to be

The Graham Parks and Recreation Board this week directed the City Parks Department to continue removal of safety hazards and other structures from Firemen’s Park. Some items which were approved to be removed include the enclosed barbecue pits, "wishing well" and metal heart-shaped bench.The board discussed beginning the removal of safety hazards, dilapidated park equipment and other structures during their meeting Tuesday, Aug. 22. One of the safety concerns was the pump station next to Salt Creek which has a metal building and pipe structure.“Kids could go inside that little building and who knows what is inside there besides a snake. I mean, there could be anything in there,” Parks Board President Alex Heartfield said.City Manager Eric Garretty said the electricity and lighting would have to be redone for the pump station to be operational. The plumbing and piping which leads to Salt Creek are the only things still operational.“It would have to be brand new,” Public Works Director Randall Dawson said. “The thing hasn't been used in well over 30 years.”Items which were already removed include a drinking fountain which was never connected, a wooden telephone pole, electrical poles near the pond and various pipes and poles sticking out of the ground. A metal light pole in the middle of the park was agreed to be removed.“The only reason that I can see to have lighting in the park, would be if we gave special permission to a group to host an event after dark. I can't see when or what we would do, but just throwing it out there. But then you can haul lights in for that,” Heartfield said.For major structures approved to be removed by the board, the city manager asked the board if they would rather bring those items before the Graham City Council for approval.“On the major structures, does (Assistant City Manager) Grant (Ingram) need to put together a presentation to bring to council to get approval for demolition of like I'm thinking the barbecue pit, the wishing well, anything that’s big and a structure? Or do y'all feel like it's within what council granted to you on the Firemen's Park renovations? Do you feel like you need to go back to council for some of the major pieces,” he said.Heartfield said as long as the projects are not being contracted out and are being done in-house by city crews, he did not think the parks board needed to go before city council for approval. The board president said he believed the authority granted from the council for the park project includes the demolition of structures.“If anybody asks, what I'm going to say is, ‘(the) parks committee was given approval to engage in this Firemen's Park renovation... and rehabilitation (project) and this is part of the renovation and rehabilitation,’” Garretty said.One of the larger structures which was approved to be removed was the enclosed barbecue pits which are next to the covered pavilion area at the park. City staff said the pits are rarely used and Heartfield said they could be a safety hazard.“It is a rat trap and a danger. There's no reason to be having fires in the park anyway,” he said.A heart-shaped metal bench and heart concrete base near the western entrance to the park were approved to be removed by the board.The wishing well, which is estimated to have been in the park since the 1960s, was also approved by the board to be removed.The well is built up from the ground level, according to the public works director. Dawson said the structure enclosing the wishing well is also in a dilapidated state and falling down. An additional issue the city has is the amount of trash thrown into the well.The board also discussed what they should do with five monuments which are located within the park. The board president said the monuments are shaped in a way which resembles a tombstone and reusing the plaque, or honoring the person in a different way, would be beneficial.“I don't want to get rid of honoring the person, I want it to look like an inviting place, not a graveyard. I think if we could save the plaque and put it on something else that would be the ideal situation,” Heartfield said.The monuments at the park include one in memory of Joe G. Wootten, one erected by the V.F.W. Post 8567 in honor of Sgt. Danny L. Widner, one erected by the Kiwanis Club dedicated to children in memory of Lee Plante, one in honor of Grace Newell and one for Firemen’s Memorial Park and the date of its creation.Heartfield suggested the board signage and branding subcommittee, formed during the meeting Tuesday, research the monuments.“As part of the not just branding, but signage and branding committee, you guys will decide and come back with a recommendation," he said. "I would recommend getting with Dorman (Holub) and maybe a few others to get thoughts."The board will be repurposing bleachers near the playground either at the baseball fields near the park or at the future fields which will be included in the Salt Creek Park project.The board approved to remove the discussed items and gave the City Parks Department discretion on what is considered a safety hazard within Firemen’s Park for removal.