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By Carey Reeder | Managing Editor

The City of Clanton celebrated the beginning of construction on the splash pad in Clanton City Park and the bridge at Ollie Park that are anticipated to be ready for the upcoming summer season. Construction on the projects began last week.

Both projects have been in the works for a while after the city was approved for a 50/50 grant from the Alabama Department of Economic and Community Affairs’ (ADECA) Land and Water Conservation Fund a handful of years ago. The original grant amount of $457,531.90, with $228,765.95 coming for the city’s portion, was delayed by the COVID-19 pandemic and the grant had to be reissued due to increased construction costs. The new 50/50 grant from the ADECA Land and Water Conservation Fund is for $667,295 with $333,647.50 coming from the city’s portion of the projects.

The splash pad will be installed next to the city pool in Clanton City Park, and the bridge in Ollie Park will go over Goose Pond Creek and replace the current trailer that takes park users across the creek now. It is the city’s hope that the splash pad will be ready for use by the summer, and the bridge is completed in time for this year’s Peach Jam Jubilee.

Additionally, a second pedestrian bridge and associated sidewalks are being added to Clanton City Park through a Transportation Alternatives Program grant obtained from the Alabama Department of Transportation (ALDOT). The grant is an 80/20 grant with the TAP Fund providing $517,120 and the city providing the remaining $129,280 for the $646,400 project. The bridge will connect the overflow parking area adjacent to Highway 31 to the park, and construction has already begun.