Putnam’s Hope Park Soon To Be Open To The Public

Putnam County’s Hope Park is nearing completion with the asphalt for the parking lot being the last step for public use.

Parks and Recreation Director John Ross Albertson said the county’s highway department will begin paving in the coming weeks.

“All the sod is laid. All the sidewalks are completed,” Albertson said. “The playground is installed. Mulching is installed around it and the pavilion and bathrooms all of that is completed.”

Albertson said 19 dogwood trees have been planted representing the victims of the March tornado. Three families, the Asantes, the Barnetts, and the Pitts, sold their land to the county for the building of the park. All three families lost their homes in the storm.

Albertson said he sees the area as a large part of the healing process for the Highway 70 corridor. Albertson said the county aims for a full completion and celebration of the park sometime this spring.

“We have a few more features to add,” Albertson said. “Some park benches and some things of that nature and a water fountain. We’re going to have all that stuff in hopefully in the early spring. Once the parking lot goes in, we’ll open it to the public.”