Livingston Playground Promotes Healthy Living

The Livingston Housing Authority will celebrate the grand opening of a new playground and sidewalk Friday morning.

Executive Director Ken Mayberry said the playground will encourage healthy activities in the neighborhood around E. Seventh Street.

“It is all about promoting health and more activity among our children and we are already seeing that activity going on,” Mayberry said. “The children utilizing the playground as well as our adults. We have an extensively long sidewalk and we have a lot of adults out there exercising.”

Mayberry said the project began about three years ago with the City of Livingston.

“It’s kind of ironic. The Housing Authority Board and the staff had started talking about doing some activities to be more service oriented for both our seniors and our youth,” Mayberry said. “And Mayor [Curtis] Hayes with Livingston came over and told us that they had applied for a diabetes grant.”

Mayberry said the sidewalk connects to Preston Street which allows safer travel to the grocery store and Livingston Academy.

“I think we have turned the neighborhood here. This is a big compliment to everything we have tried to do,” Mayberry said. “Sort of icing on the cake as far as the park goes. We are very excited that there are healthy opportunities, exercise opportunities, and all that.”

The Livingston Housing Authority will celebrate the playground with a Ribbon Cutting Ceremony at 11 AM.