JARRETT GOODMAN
Staff Writer
The New Hope Board of Mayor & Aldermen (BoMA) gathered to discuss and weigh in on plans to revitalize the town’s city park through grant funds from Southeast Tennessee Development District (SETD).
Paul McKee, Grant Writer for SETD, was invited to this month’s meeting to describe different grants the city board can apply for to fund the park revitalization project and the qualifications each one grant requires. New Hope Mayor Billy Frame explained the board is looking into the various options SETD offers in terms of grant funds to receive, as the board aims to not only add a new playground to the park, but also a basketball court and hiking paths for residents to use.
“We’re trying to get it to where we can get the community together,” said Frame.
Frame noted the park has already received two new public pavilions, both of which were added last year. One of the pavilions has several picnic tables under it, and the other left empty and open for community events, such as the annual farmers market. By having a new children’s playground and walking paths, Frame and the rest of the council hope it would greatly provide new activities for residents to participate in, negating the need for residents to travel to nearby South Pittsburg or Kimball to utilize both town’s parks.
Other ideas mentioned included the addition of plaques dedicated to those who have passed be placed across different points on the walking path, serving as a memorial for residents to commemorate towards while walking or playing among the park grounds. Since the meeting’s conclusion, the board is currently underway with looking at new ideas and potential grants to apply towards in order to bring new life into the community’s public park.