HOLLY POND — Holly Pond Mayor Carla Hart reported Monday, Aug. 5, fencing recently installed around the perimeter of the playground located behind the town’s baseball complex marked the proverbial light at the end of the tunnel for one of the town’s outstanding capitol improvement projects.
“The fencing is complete,” she said.
The town first began renovating the playground in April 2023, removing its pea-gravel base layer, and has continued its attempts to complete the project.
Before being elected to the town council and later as mayor, Hart served as a longtime member of the Holly Pond Parks and Recreation Board. She said the lack of fencing around the playground — located in the back corner of the complex — had always been a “pet peeve” of hers. While she said there had never been an incident which she could recall, she had always been concerned about the possibility of a child abduction.
“That was always a scary issue,” Hart said. “We’ve never had any incidents, but it was always on my mind.”
The side of the playground facing the ballfields remains open, but a concrete curb was added to the perimeter with square-tube fencing incorporated into the remaining three sides. Hart said adding the fencing, between where children play and the nearby parking lot, has now brought her peace of mind which she hoped was shared by local families.
“We made it safe for our kids,” she said.
Hart’s sentiment was shared by at least one parent, Josh Holmes, Monday evening as he watched his two children play.
“We definitely appreciate it because now they can’t run out in front of the cars or anything without going all the way around,” Holmes said.
Hart said the town was awaiting a return estimate from a contractor to install a new base layer of rubber mulch which would complete the playground renovation but was encouraged by the progress.
“We’ve been moving along, finally, getting something accomplished,” Hart said.
In other business the town:
— Approved a quote of $4,225 from John’s Paving to patch and repair potholes in the Guy Hunt Public Library parking lot.
— Approved a $300 donation to the Cullman County Human Trafficking Task Force.
— Approved an additional $3,000 to the town’s senior center renovation budget due to unexpected additional electrical and plumbing costs.
— Approved moving the next scheduled town council meeting from Monday, Sept. 2, to Tuesday, Sept. 3, due to Labor Day.