Residents voice Levy Park preferences

FLORENCE — City lawmakers are leaving it up to Florence residents to decide how more than a quarter of a million dollars from a federal loan to the city will be spent concerning Levy Park.

Florence City Council held a Town Hall meeting Tuesday evening at Pentecostal Temple Church of God in Christ to give residents an opportunity to voice their opinions on how to spend the $370,000.

The money is what’s left of a loan used to complete the Barnes Street Community Activity Center.

Florence Mayor Stephen Wukela said the council decided to hold a public meeting on the matter because there are two contingencies with two very different ideas on how the money should be spent to better Levy Park.

“There are folks who say we should use the money to improve the basketball and tennis courts and picnic shelters that are in disrepair,” he said.

Another group has said the money should be used to build a new building at the park, Wukela said.

The current building frequently is used for club meetings and other events.

Since the city probably cannot use the money to do both projects, municipal leaders gave residents who attended Tuesday’s meeting two minutes each to share their ideas.

Florence resident Pat Gibson-Hye said a new building sounds good but park grounds first need to be cleaned and cared for.

“There’s no need to put a new building among devastation,” she said.

The park’s tennis courts need to be restored because there is an interest among east Florence youths in the sport. Gibson-Hye said a member of a local tennis association has volunteered to be an instructor.

Others agreed there is a need for athletic facilities at the park.

One east Florence resident suggested an in-ground swimming pool be installed.

Florence resident James Kennedy told council members the money should be used for a new building with computers and other educational tools.

“This is (education) of the mind, we need to get the mind concept down, then we’ll get into the physical,” Kennedy said.

City councilman Ed Robinson said the original purpose of the money was to create an educational facility.

City officials said they explored the idea of a new building and found that a 3,600 square-foot facility could be built for about $308,000. If built, the building would be similar to a facility recently built in northwest Florence on Clement Street.

Florence City Council is expected to take all of the suggestions heard Tuesday and use them to make a decision later.