Harlem City Council held a special called meeting before its work session Thursday evening, inviting citizens to offer input on improvements to Harlem City Park.
Mayor Roxanne Whitaker explained that the city would be receiving $500,000 in special purpose local option sales tax (SPLOST) funds over six years, to be applied toward upgrading the park. As such, the council called a meeting to allow the public to tell the city what particular upgrades they’d like to see.
Erik and Ramie Ahlstrom, a Harlem couple who have lived in town for about four years, asked about the city replacing deteriorated batting cages at the park, and addressing speedy traffic out of the park with speed bumps.
When the mayor asked about playground improvements, Ramie Ahlstrom said that “swings would be nice,” for kids and adults alike. Whitaker noted that, according to the playground equipment company the city is currently consulting, Georgia has changed from former restrictions regarding swings, slides and merry-go-rounds as liabilities.
“We may be able to bring those back,” said Whitaker, mentioning that the playground equipment provider told her that there are swings available for “infants to 90-year-old people, and [it has] been requested that we get swings for all ages and all mental capacities.”
Whitaker also expressed the city’s intention to bring the park into Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) compliance.
Columbia County Manager Scott Johnson was present at the meeting, and briefly explained the cosmetic improvements the county made to the park. The county invested more than $57,000 in maintenance to the park, Johnson said, which would not be deducted from Harlem’s $500,000 SPLOST monies.
The installation of automatic door locks in the restroom buildings, pressure washing the playground and bleachers, asphalt repairs to the walking track, retagging fencing, and new signage throughout the park were among the upgrades the county have been completed.
Councilmember John Thigpen mentioned local interest in the addition of a pickleball court and improvements to the tennis court, as well.
Mayor Whitaker also noted that the city is in the design phase of repurposing the vacant former location of North Harlem Elementary School as a multi-purpose park.
“We look forward to putting together a formal plan and getting it out to the public,” Whitaker said, adding that residents will have a chance to offer their approval or disapproval.
Skyler Q. Andrews is a staff reporter for The Augusta Press. Reach him at skyler@theaugustapress.com.
