Mike Gilbreath Memorial Park temporarily closed during renovation project

DOUBLE SPRINGS  - A community park, named in honor of a man who gave much service to his community, was temporarily closed beginning Feb. 13,  while its first major renovation, planned at least the past two years, is finally taking place.
The Mike Gilbreath Memorial Park will be closed for a few months, in order for some major improvements to be made, including repaving the walking track as well as the installation of new lighting, noted Double Springs Mayor Elmo Robinson.
The contract for improvements was effective Feb. 13,  and is scheduled to start within two weeks, with B Construction LLC of Winfield receiving the bid for the project.
The project is scheduled to last approximately 120 days, including days built in for weather, Mayor Robinson said.
Although the contract was effective Feb. 13, construction crews will start moving in items for the project beginning the week of Feb. 17,  resulting the closure of the park, officials said.
Cost of the project will be $285,774, with a grant from the Alabama Department of Soil and Water Conservation providing half of the project costs at $142,887. The remaining half of the cost will  be paid by the town from their general fund, Mayor Robinson explained.
The project calls for changing all of the lighting  and electrical systems at the park, including the removal of the old wooden creosote poles, replacing them with metal poles. 
The removal of the  creosote poles will enable the town to be able to receive future such recreational grants, the mayor stated.
Lighting on the metal poles will better illuminate the park, and the repaving of the track will give a smoother, safer surface to those using the park, the mayor further explained.
“We are going to try to eliminate some of our problems where you have trees that the roots tear up our walking surface,” Mayor Robinson said. 
“The electrical system we’re going to put in is going to help our Christmas in the Park and other things we have over there,” Mayor Robinson pointed out.
“The gates (to the park) will be locked once construction starts,” Mayor Robinson emphasized. “The playground and the walking track both will be closed.”
Residents who would like to walk or those who use the walking track at the community park, are being encouraged to go to the Double Springs Municipal Building.
“The doors are open down there 24 hours a day, so they can go down there and walk in the bay area,” Robinson said.
The gym at the community center will also be available certain hours of the day, but those hours is subject to change depending on activities at the gym, town officials indicated.
The Double Springs Town Council initially approved the project of renovating Mike Gilbreath Memorial Park, with an agreement reached on Sept. 24, 2018, town officials said.
However, the project was delayed due to the extensive filing of paper work. Also, the town council in November 2019, voted to reject the first set of bids for the project, due to the cost exceeding the budget, noted Mayor Robinson.
The project, therefore, had to be rebid in order to get the cost within budget, he added.
“It just takes a long time for these projects to work through,” Robinson said. 
“Any time you apply for grants, you don’t apply for it today and get it tomorrow and then construction starts the next day,” he added. 
“It’s a long drawn out process. You’ve got biddings you’ve got to do, and in a lot of cases you have inspections you have to have for different things, making sure it’s environmentally safe,” the mayor continued.
The park located at the community center was built under the administration of Jerry Lester in the 1980s but was renamed in 2010, after a tragic accident claimed the life of the town’s long time fire chief Mike Gilbreath.
Gilbreath, who had been fire chief since 1990, was struck and killed by a vehicle while out cleaning up storm damage, on March 27, 2009.
A dedication ceremony was held with a monument and paved walkway unveiled at the park, which was officially named in his honor on Oct. 24, 2010.
Mike’s son Erik Gilbreath, who has followed in his father’s footsteps and is now a lieutenant in the department, is proud the park is receiving its first major renovation.
“Like everybody that has been up there, they have seen that it needs some improvements,” Erik stated. “I am proud they are going to be doing those improvements. 
“A lot of folks use (the park) and a lot of folks that are not from around here, they go up there and they see that, and it is kind of like a pride thing,” Erik added.
“It’s a place where everybody can go and it’s a safe place because they have a lot of birthday parties,” Erik continued. “Having (the park) look nice is good for that too.
“Dad always loved this town, and he was very proud of this town,” Erik added. “It’s nice to see that they are doing something to honor him. He gave a lot to this community too, a lot of time, a lot of dedication...It’s nice to see that is being recognized,” he concluded.
The park renovation project, which has finally received the green light, after two years, is another example  of the town working to improve their facilties, the mayor said.
“This is the first major renovation that that park has really had since it was completed,” Robinson said. “We’re not going to stop here. There are a lot of other things we want to do in there.”