Joanne Williams
Editor
(Joanne Williams/TCJ – City officials and supporters joined community members in the re-opening of a beautified Oak Park, located at Seminary and S. Clinton streets in Charlotte.)
The grand-reopening of Charlotte’s Oak Park was indeed fun and free for the whole family.
A perfect Aug. 28 evening offered community members of all ages a chance to christen the recent renovations and updates at the park, including a covered pavilion with picnic tables, refurbished playground equipment, and an acorn sculpture fountain that had not worked for decades.
More than 200 people meandered through the park or sat on their porches around the square, which offered free information from local non-profit agencies, free face painting and balloon animals, free Kona Ice delights and sweet lemonade from Lone Star and touch-a-truck opportunities from the Charlotte Fire Department and the Department of Public Works, which coordinated the event.
Before Baseline played a rocking set of music, city officials took the opportunity to talk about the work and the support that made the beautification possible.
A ribbon-cutting was held in front of a late-1800s stone acorn-shaped fountain, crafted by the master masons Jay and Lee Prindle. The fountain had been silent for about 60 years and neighbors were “delighted” to see it running once again.
Cutting the red ceremonial ribbon was Department of Public Works Director Stephanie Whitney, who helped the city procure two grants – $100,000 from Eaton County Parks, and another $30,000 from the Charlotte Area Recreation Co-op.
In remarks, Whitney said the city “doesn’t have any plans on stopping” these park projects. “We have a lot of parks in town,” she said.
Opening the ceremony was City Council Member Jeffrey Christensen, who mentioned other project sponsors – businesses and organizations throughout the community. All of the speakers, including Mayor Kevin Fullerton, praised the work of Department of Public Works employees.
