The wheels are finally in motion to improve the situation at the Louetta Moore Memorial Park on MLK Blvd. A townhall meeting to discuss renovation of the park, sponsored jointly by the City of Statesboro and Bulloch County, will take place today at 115 North Main Street in the Commissioners Meeting Room at the Bulloch County North Main Annex building. The meeting starts at 6 p.m.
The park has been in disrepair for a number of years, especially the pool, which will be expensive and difficult to repair, if it can be repaired at all.
When House Bill 489 passed a few years ago, several city-operated services and facilities were transferred over to the county. Recreation services were included in this transition, along with the local airport, library and animal shelter. At the time, however, the county did not have sufficient funds to adequately repair the extensive damage to the park.
Active discussions about repairing the park have been ongoing for over a year. Last February, in front of city council, Bulloch NAACP President Pearl Brown asked that SPLOST funds be spent to repair and support the park. For a Herald story last July, she said she hoped the county would consider the needs of those would cannot afford Splash in the Boro and who do not have transportation to the water park.
"The Bulloch County NAACP has spearheaded an effort to get a community center to be built at the Louetta Moore Park," she said. "But the citizens are also wanting a pool for the children, where kids can walk to the pool and pay to get in."
Discussion over the future care and development of Moore Park even became an issue during the District 2 city council race last fall between incumbent Councilman Gary Lewis and challenger Nathan Queen. During the campaign, Queen twice mentioned the need to refurbish the park and to reopen the community center and pool. Lewis responded during a city council meeting by calling for a committee to be formed to investigate the effort necessary to renovate the facility.
In October, the council voted to jointly fund, with Bulloch County, a needs assessment and pre-design study for the Louetta Moore Community Center. The study will be handled by Robert and Company, who have been in business for 90 years and have extensive experience with community projects. Today's meeting is designed to solicit input from members of the community.
For more information please contact Bulloch County Capital Projects Director Maurice McDowell at (912) 764-6245.
The park has been in disrepair for a number of years, especially the pool, which will be expensive and difficult to repair, if it can be repaired at all.
When House Bill 489 passed a few years ago, several city-operated services and facilities were transferred over to the county. Recreation services were included in this transition, along with the local airport, library and animal shelter. At the time, however, the county did not have sufficient funds to adequately repair the extensive damage to the park.
Active discussions about repairing the park have been ongoing for over a year. Last February, in front of city council, Bulloch NAACP President Pearl Brown asked that SPLOST funds be spent to repair and support the park. For a Herald story last July, she said she hoped the county would consider the needs of those would cannot afford Splash in the Boro and who do not have transportation to the water park.
"The Bulloch County NAACP has spearheaded an effort to get a community center to be built at the Louetta Moore Park," she said. "But the citizens are also wanting a pool for the children, where kids can walk to the pool and pay to get in."
Discussion over the future care and development of Moore Park even became an issue during the District 2 city council race last fall between incumbent Councilman Gary Lewis and challenger Nathan Queen. During the campaign, Queen twice mentioned the need to refurbish the park and to reopen the community center and pool. Lewis responded during a city council meeting by calling for a committee to be formed to investigate the effort necessary to renovate the facility.
In October, the council voted to jointly fund, with Bulloch County, a needs assessment and pre-design study for the Louetta Moore Community Center. The study will be handled by Robert and Company, who have been in business for 90 years and have extensive experience with community projects. Today's meeting is designed to solicit input from members of the community.
For more information please contact Bulloch County Capital Projects Director Maurice McDowell at (912) 764-6245.