Upgrades coming to Harrisburg Park in Baldwin County

BALDWIN COUNTY, Ga. — Improvements are coming to Baldwin County’s Harrisburg neighborhood thanks to a state grant.

The state awarded $1.8 million to help improve the Harrisburg Park and community center. 

13WMAZ went out to Harrisburg to see where the improvements will be located. 

Annie Beckom has lived near Harrisburg park for 56 years, she says. Beckom says she started the community garden with her sister. 

She remembers when the park was dangerous, though she says she sees it filled with families and children now.

“Kids weren’t even able to come down here to play because there was so much activity down here that we didn’t like,” Beckom said.  “Bringing something like this to the community, yes, it’s a reward in the neighborhood.” 

Thanks to the $1.8 million state grant, city manager Carlos Tobar says Baldwin County will use it to add playground equipment, traffic lights, sidewalks and more basketball courts. 

“We wanna have our neighborhood where people can just come enjoy this soon and we don’t want nothing to be unsafe for our kids to be able to come back here and play,” Beckom said. 

Beckom said she sees how cars speed by the intersection by the park. She says she worries a child could run out and get hurt. 

For almost two years, James Calloway has mowed the grass for the community garden. He says the kids should be able to play worry free. 

“Give the kids some more to do and during the summer they have a safe place to go and, and nice park for them to have fun and away from all the bad,” he says. 

Beckom and Callaway say the community garden, splash pad and picnic tables have attracted more people. 

Calloway says the garden brings the Harrisburg neighborhood together, but people say they want improvements. 

“Because, you know, we’re not happy with the way it is and any, any kind of improvement would be great for us out here,” Beckom says. 

Contractors’ bids on the Harrisburg park improvements are due Oct. 18 and the county commission will discuss them in November, Tobar says.

Tobar hopes to start construction next year.