The Taylorville community will have the opportunity to weigh in on proposed changes to Jayne’s Park.  Park District administrators will present their plans and how a new grant will help finance them.  This presentation will happen at a public forum, scheduled for this coming Monday (August 18) at 6 p.m. at the Manners Park dining hall.  As presented at July’s Park Board meeting, the ideas are expected to include new recreational spaces and improvements to accessibility and safety.  The public will be able to provide feedback and suggestions surrounding the plans and costs.  It all comes as summer events wind down and fun fall activities will soon take effect.

This forum is required by statute because of the project’s use of grant money.  Recreation Director Jessica Franks has taken the lead in these efforts.  She says spaces for several different sports and other recreational games are part of the blueprint as of now. 

In previous years, the Park District has been required to match any public grant money they apply for.  However, they are now on a list of “distressed” districts as specified by the state.  Districts may be added to the list for economic reasons – such as having a sufficient percentage of residents below the poverty line – or physical ones – such as a recent natural disaster destroying property.  Because of this qualification, the Taylorville Park District is now not required to match the grant.

As for ongoing events, the summer concert series has come to a close.  Despite that, other regular gatherings and activities are still going on.  They include the senior lunch, which happens the second Thursday of every month at noon. 

The Park District will soon turn its attention to fall events.  They include the Falling Leaf Festival, which is entering just its second annual edition. 

In July, the Park Board approved moving Small Town Taylorville’s car cruises to Manners Park.  Franks says car shows at the park have historically drawn large crowds and that this move will help avoid interfering with construction on the Taylorville square. 

More information on the Taylorville Park District is available at www.taylorvilleparkdistrict.com. 

Jessica Franks appeared as a guest on the WTIM Morning Show.