Earle gets FUN grant

Earle gets FUN grant

City will receive $50,000 to improve community center By Mark Randall

news@theeveningtimes.com The City of Earle has received an early Christmas present. The city was informed by the state that they have been awarded $50,000 to make improvements to the walking trail and area around the city’s community center.

Mayor Sherman Smith informed the City Council that he received the letter informing them of the award and plans to move forward on the improve- ments.

“We got the notification that we had been approved for the $50,000,” Smith said. “We will be making those improvements as the money becomes available to us.”

The award comes through the FUN grant — Facilities for Underdeveloped Neighborhoods — through Arkansas Department of Parks and Tourism.

FUN grants are targeted for areas of the state which do not have park facilities. The money helps assist cities and counties in developing basic neighborhood outdoor recreational

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facilities.

The city plans to use the money to add more trees, some playground equipment, and a pavilion.

Smith said he isn’t sure if the state will send them a check or whether the city will need to send in receipts, but he expects to start on the park in the spring.

“This is the first time I have ever gotten a park grant,” Smith said. “It may be reimbursable, I’m not certain. They said they will advise us later.”

The area already has some amenities, but Smith said adding more landscaping and playground equipment will definitely make it a real draw for residents by the time they are finished.

“We have a plan which we submitted to them,” Smith said. “It’s going to have a water fountain, a couple of park benches, a grill to barbecue on, and four picnic tables under the pavilion.

It’s going to be nice, it really is.”