CULLMAN, Ala. – Cullman Parks, Recreation and Sports Tourism (CPRST) hosted locals for another forum on the updates coming to East Side Park at the Omniplex Monday night. During their first forum, CPRST heard ideas for new playground additions from residents in attendance and in Monday night’s forum, representatives from three different playground companies were on hand to present the plans they put together based on the feedback.
The Land and Water Conservation Fund (LWCF), through an equal match grant, will help fund several planned improvements at the park. These include a new inclusive playground, pickleball courts, basketball court, futsal court, dog park, restrooms, new LED lighting for the baseball field, a new batting cage, improved parking and enhanced sidewalk accessibility.
Before hearing presentations from Lappset’s David Cancio, Great Southern Recreation’s Jonas Bailey and Kompan’s Christy Manahan, CPRST Executive Director Nathan Anderson was happy to announce that they received the grant they were applying for to fund the project.
“This is where it gets really exciting with any project, when we get to start putting pictures to the ideas and we have three great playground companies to introduce you to. Two of them have worked with us on other projects and Lappset is brand new to the table, but they’ve been around for quite some time. The first session was all about collecting ideas and last time we met we told you we were going after a grant, and we did receive word two weeks ago that we are getting that grant and we are funded,” Anderson said. “So, we’re moving forward with the full project so that will mean a dog park, new bathrooms, fixing all the sidewalk issues and making it a more accessible and compliant park with new playgrounds, basketball courts, pickle ball courts and futsal courts. The playground companies were given your feedback from the first forum and have designed their playgrounds based on that.”
After the presentations, Anderson instructed attendees how to vote on the different playground designs so they know more specifics before choosing a final design.
“Thank you all for putting time into these designs. I think every one of them did a great job paying attention to the details of the first meeting and checking all the boxes,” Anderson said. The basketball courts, pickle ball courts, upgraded lights, new bathrooms and the dog park will all be included in whatever design we go with, so the playground is what we need you to weigh in on.”
After compiling all the voting data from the locals in attendance, CPRST will make more announcements in the future regarding plans for the park.
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