Baxter City Park expected to reopen as soon as next week following a $2,500 donation from Life Church to cover the costs of a new five-year lease agreement.
Mayor Danny Holmes said the Baxter City Council granted him the authority to move forward with the short-term lease despite knowing the city will likely not qualify for state grants updates or improvements for the property without a long-term lease. Holmes said the donation from Life Church was made after the organization expressed a desire to help the city restore public access to the space.
“I told them if they want to put a sign at the park, I think that’s wonderful,” Holmes said, “Because it’s because of them that we are reopening as soon as we are,”
Holmes said the park will remain a fully public space. Holmes said the city has historically maintained the park through a joint effort with Putnam County Maintenance rather than relying on state grant funding.
“I just feel like it’s a great park for the city of Baxter and we’re going to move forward and I’m hoping no later than the first of next week it will be reopened and the city of Baxter will provide the insurance for it,” Holmes said. “I just think it would be horrible to close that park and not let the citizens of Baxter use it.”
Holmes said the city recently removed a play structure from the site after an insurance adjuster identified it as a safety hazard. Holmes said the park still features swings, a merry-go-round, and significant shade that makes it a popular location for birthday parties and school outings.
“We want more than anything in the world just to keep it the Baxter City Park as it has been for the last 75 years and I just feel like it’s a vital part of Baxter,” Holmes said. “I hate that this happened but you know sometimes in life it throws us a few curveballs but we get around them and that’s exactly what we’re going to do this time too.”
Holmes said the park was forced to close temporarily while the city worked through the lease transition with the property owners. Holmes said the owners are long-time residents who also want the land to remain a community park.
“I’ve had so many people call me and say this is where we’ve always held our birthday parties and I understand that,” Holmes said. “So it’s going to be reopened, we’re looking forward to it.”
