Turrell gets money for city park

Turrell gets money for city park

Cooper ‘ elated’ with $ 45,000 check from State Tourism Dept.

news@theeveningtimes.com

Turrell is ready to begin putting shovels in the ground and turning some dirt on its city park.

Mayor Dorothy Cooper officially received a check from the state for $45,000 from Arkansas Department of Parks and Tourism.

The money is from the Facilities for Underdeveloped Neighborhoods (FUN) grant program which assists cities and counties in developing neighborhood outdoor recreation facilities.

The park will be built next to the fire station and will include a covered pavilion, children’s playground, and basketball court.

“I am elated for this com-

munity,” Cooper said. “It has been a lot of hard work. But it is worth it. It is going to be very nice for the community.”

Cooper also announced more good news.

In addition to the $45,000, Turrell was also awarded $10,000 from East Arkansas Planning and Development District which will help the city build a full basketball court at the park.

The FUN grant only covered a half basketball court. “I need to thank state Rep.

Monte Hodges for getting that money last year,” Cooper said. “So I’ve got $55,000 for us to do the park. That other $10,000 is going to get us another slab where it will make it a full basketball court.”

Cooper said she expects construction to begin as early as this week and should take about two to three weeks to complete.

“Because of the rain it has pushed us back some,” Cooper said. “But we are going to start bringing the dirt in within the next week to do the foundation.”

The city will have a ribbon cutting ceremony in early July.

In other news, Cooper also said workers are in the process of installing the city’s pneumatic water tank.

The city received a $150,000 grant last July from Arkansas Natural Resources Council to buy the pump and help alleviate the city’s water issues.

The tank holds 2,000 gallons of water and provides water to the city when the main pump shuts down. A back-up generator will help keep the city supplied in the event of a shutdown.

The tank is a short-term fix until the city can secure funding to build a new water tank.

In another update, Cooper also said the state will begin paving the city’s streets in July.

Turrell was selected to receive funding from the Arkansas State Aid City Street Program. All of the city’s thru-roads will be overlaid.

By Mark Randall