Glen Alpine residents want money from county for park

By: Sharon McBrayer | Morganton News Herald
Published: June 16, 2009

Morganton --

Several people asked the Burke County Board of Commissioners Tuesday night to include money in its budget for a park at Glen Alpine.
Commissioners held a public hearing on the budget Tuesday. This year's budget didn't include any money for the park.
Jimmy Wakeford, president of Glen Alpine Recreation Foundation, asked commissioners to put enough money in the budget for playground equipment for Simpson Park.
The park includes two baseball fields, a concession stand, a basketball court, football field and playground.
Wakeford thanked commissioners for the work that's been done on the park so far. He said several schools and churches use it now and there's even an adult softball team that's been started because the park has been refurbished.
The park became an issue for commissioners during last year's budget process.
The county took over the park from Glen Alpine in July 2007. The park had fallen into disrepair and the county was obligated to make improvements.
An outcry from residents in the town last year caused commissioners to make a lot of improvements.
Wakeford asked commissioners to dig a little deeper to find money for equipment.
Glen Alpine Mayor Christine Abernathy told commissioners the park can be a place for children to gather in a structured environment and it will keep them off the streets.
Abernathy also said the county can save money in the future by investing in the park now.
Suttle said at the end of the commissioners meeting that maybe they can find some money in the budget to pay for half of the playground equipment needed at the park. Commissioners were able to save in the proposed budget for 2009-10 an employee position assigned to the park.

Glen Alpine residents want money from county for park

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