Citronelle park gets $230K makeover

CITRONELLE, Ala. (WALA) - At one time a park cobbled together out of spare parts and goodwill, Davis Park in Citronelle will unveil its new makeover at a ribbon-cutting set for 11:30 a.m. Monday, August 20 at the park playground.

The makeover is the product of a partnership between the city and the Mobile County Commission, which applied for a $230,000 federal grant from the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD). The grant funded a new playground and bathroom facilities, sidewalks, upgrades to an existing meeting fellowship hall and, for the first time, drinking fountains on park grounds.

“We had a captive audience of enthusiastic park users who tolerated facilities in obvious disrepair and who deserved better,” said Mobile County Commissioner Merceria Ludgood. “I’m delighted that we won the grant in a very competitive field of applicants.”

Citronelle Mayor Loretta Presnell and Councilman Joe Beaty literally hit the streets for the cause, surveying home-to-home in the area for five months to establish that the park qualified for the low- and moderate-income requirement of the grant.

“I was heartbroken because I wanted more for the kids,” said Presnell. “I was troubled by the fact that it was so run-down.”

Adults also use the park, where they play baseball on a lighted field and use the basketball court. There also is a summer program there, where retired adults teach kids to read and play games with the children.

The park was built in the 1960’s, the land donated by a local plumber, Tellie Davis, who deeded the property to the city of Citronelle.