Parks Commission discusses grant for tree planting in park

Wednesday, August 24, 2011

— The Gentry Parks Commission is recommending that the city wait about two months before spending a $5,000 grant from Walmart received through the Gentry United Way to plant trees in the city park.

The wait will allow Gentry Chamber of Commerce director Bev Saunders the opportunity to check into the possibility of receiving additional grant money for park improvements, using the $5,000 as the city’s matching portion of the grant.

“I think we should wait and see if we can doubleour money,” commission chairman and council member Michael Crawford said.

Council member Janie Parks, who also owns and operates a nursery, said trees should be planted in months with an “R” in their name because the late spring and summer months are too hot and often too dry.

Current plans are to plant more trees in the city park during the fall, winter or early spring. Should another grant be able to be obtained by using the $5,000 as a city expenditure and matching funds, additional park improvements could be possible as well.

Parks said the last trees planted in the park, near the softball diamonds, cost approximately $100 each, and that a good number of trees could be planted with the Walmart grant money.

Also discussed at the meeting were the need for a comprehensive plan for additional electrical outlets and lighting in the park, the need for estimates of the cost of demolition of the old American Legion building to compare with the costs of repair, and ways to provide adequate portable restroom facilities when large functions are scheduled in the park.

News, Pages 3 on 08/24/2011