Nevada County Picayune and Gurdon Times Newspaper Archive

Smith Working On Grants

Improving Gurdon's City Park is one of Tambra Smith's top priorities.

Smith, the Gurdon City Recorder/Treasurer, said she is working to get bids and proposals together in order to make the park handicapped accessible.

She had began working to get an Arkansas Rural Community Planning Grant, but time is a factor as all the paperwork must be in by March 15.

This grant is for a maximum of $5,000, and is a matching grant. Smith said if Gurdon can get one, the city's match can be in-kind and not necessarily cash.

Another problem with this grant is the city council must pass it in two sessions. This would mean a special session for the council.

Smith is also working to get two other grants.

With these grants, the council only has to pass a resolution in one meeting.

Mary Burns is helping Smith work on a fourth grant, which would help the Gurdon Fire Department purchase portable radios for its firefighters.

Smith said these radios cost about $500 each, and there are 20 members of the GFD.

The city will also apply to the Ross Foundation for the matching part of the grant for the fire department, Smith said.

There is a slight problem with what Smith had in mind concerning upgrades in the park equipment.

She had originally wanted to purchase swing horses and see-saws. However, these items do not meet consumer guidelines for child safety and, therefore, cannot be installed in a city park.

Still, Smith is working to get bids on having the park's restrooms repaired, installing concrete pads around the bathrooms and getting a covered bench.

So far, she has managed to get sand donated for the proposed volleyball pit, which adjoins the park.

Barbecue grills were installed in the park last year, and are in good shape for those who enjoy cooking outdoors.

"I have a personal interest in the park," Smith said. "My family enjoys going there.

"It's the only recreational area the people of Gurdon have. They should be proud of it. A lot of people use the park. They can make a day of it."

She continued saying the tennis courts will have the cracks sealed and will be restriped.

The courts, she said, will be a problem and one of the most expensive items to be repaired.

Smith said a company with a high pressure cleaning machine, such as those used to clean parking lots, may have to be hired to clean out the cracks. Then, the cracks will have to be sealed and the courts striped.

According to Smith, the city may spend $85 for a striping machine because the street department could also use it to stripe parking spaces.

"We're a long way off," she said. "Some of my original ideas on equipment have been shot down. The equipment must meet consumer guidelines."

Edrie Newberry, a rehabilitation counselor with the state, worked with Smith on finding what needs to be done to make the park handicap accessible and get it to Americans with Disability Act (ADA) standards.

The biggest problem Newberry found was with the restrooms, which need a lot of work before they will meet ADA standards.

Smith said she would also like to get lighting installed in the restroom area which would be directed toward Gurdon Lake.