Electric City has new park

The city has purchased a 112-foot by 160-foot piece of land just above the fire hall for $25,000 from the Banks Lake Bible Church.

The city has salvaged pieces of playground equipment, and plans to fence in both ends of the park that empty into traffic to keep young children from running out on city streets.

The playground equipment had been declared surplus by the school district and acquired by Electric City when Center Elementary was vacated last September.

Councilmember Lonna Bussert, the main advocate for a central park, said that the city now has to plan how to use the land.

Her dream was for a place where residents could take their families and a picnic lunch and have a good time. She has noted that the park location is central enough that many could walk to it.

The city budgeted $15,000 for the park project, $10,000 down and $5,000 for design and development.

Bussert, along with Councilmember Brad Parrish, had started the campaign for a new park about a year ago.

The city put $10,000 down and will pay off the remainder of the purchase price over a 10-year period.

The council was advised at its last meeting that the sale was completed.

Bussert said that public works director Ken Dexter will play a key role in how to proceed with the planning of the space. The two were at the site last Thursday in one of their initial planning sessions.

Bussert said that the city will look for ways that city residents can take part in the park's development.