By MELINDA J. OVERSTREET
for Glasgow News 1
Construction on the buildings at the entrance to Richardson Stadium has progressed “very, very well,” with their shells being completed. The shade structures were expected to be shipped this week, so the hope was they could be installed next week.
Those bits of information were part of one of the updates provided earlier this week to the Glasgow Common Council Parks and Recreation Committee by Eddie Furlong, director of the Glasgow Parks and Recreation Department.
He added that things still remain to be done inside the buildings, which share a roof that creates a breezeway between them. One side will house the score booth and concessions will be on the other side, with each having a restroom and a storage space.
Furlong said the plumbing to the buildings is complete, but fixtures still have to be installed.
Once the shade structures are in, the cement will be poured for the foundations in the seating areas and then the bleachers can be installed.
“Then it’ll look a whole lot more like a baseball field,” he said.
Council member Chasity Lowery asked what the anticipated completion date is for the resurrection project that has been done in bits and pieces between the last two baseball seasons after the stadium was destroyed by fire in July 2022.
Furlong said he was hesitant to say it all would be done by the end of the calendar year, but that’s what the hope is, depending on the weather.
“So, fingers crossed we stay on track with that,” he said.
The meeting was a week later than normal due to fall break, and because it was a special-called meeting, the agenda was somewhat limited.
Furlong continued by stating that the construction at American Legion Park, which is getting almost completely redone, is coming along well, with a progress meeting planned for Friday with the architect and construction team and city officials to ensure everyone is on the same page.
He then provided an update on the new security cameras that are being installed in the city parks, with seven new ones added to the six existing ones at Beaver Creek Park, and a few more are planned for there.
Twyman and Weldon Parks each already have at least one camera, with more planned, and Gorin Park will be getting its first ones soon. Cameras are also planned for the front of Glasgow City Hall and in the vicinity of the Plaza Theatre.
“Once they’re up and running, I think it’s going to be a huge thing for the city,” Furlong said.
A primary reason for the installation of the cameras is to help curb repeated damage caused to various elements within the parks by vandalism. The resolution is good enough that the staff can zoom in and see car license plates.
The group also discussed the best plan for monitoring activity on the camera feeds.
Lisa Lassiter, the new park ranger hired through the Glasgow Police Department, drives through the parks and is also responsible for locking the bathrooms and park gates at night, with GPD officers taking care of that duty on her days off, he said.
“She’s been doing a great job so far,” Furlong said.
Councilman Terry Bunnell suggested that she make a point to get out of the vehicle some to mingle with members of the community to develop rapport with them, and that sentiment was echoed by two other committee members present, Lowery, who chairs the group, and Patrick Gaunce.
Although it wasn’t on the agenda, he also spent a few minutes talking about cracks in tennis courts and lights that are out, with at least two council members participating in the discussion.
Briefly, under the general agenda item of program updates Furlong also stated that 381 kids are registered for the fall soccer league, the largest yet, and 16 volleyball teams are participating this fall.
The department’s Halloween Festival is Oct. 26 at Beaver Creek Park, starting with a cruise-in from 2 to 4 p.m., trunk-or-treat from 4:30 to 7 p.m. and shortly after 7 p.m., the latest Ghostbusters movie will be shown. A bounce house and food trucks are also scheduled, he said. There is no admission charge; the only cost would be any items purchased from the food trucks, Furlong said.
Gaunce asked whether he could speak about a program, and as the agenda item was vague, he was allowed to do so. He said he had been approached about the possibility of creating a “rainbow bridge” with a place to hang a deceased pet’s collar as a sort of memorial. He said he’s seen it in other places. The ensuing discussion included location possibilities and ended with Furlong saying he would research it some and give it some thought to see what they could do.
“We’re always open to new ideas, obviously,” he said.
Furlong said he’s definitely not opposed to it, but he would want to make sure it’s in a good spot.
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