Mild weather draws many neighborhood children to the new playground equipment at Alabama Street Park -

Mild weather has brought many neighborhood children to enjoy the new playground equipment installed at the Alabama Street Park during the winter.

Work on improving the park was initiated a few years ago by Billye Jean Stroud and Tracy Vainisi of the New Albany Community Development office. Vainisi wrote a grant application, but the process was interrupted by the COVID pandemic.

It came alive again in 2021 when a $15,000-grant from KABOOM!, “a national nonprofit that works to end playspace inequity,” was received, a result of Vainisi’s grant application However, additional funds were needed to pay for the new playground equipment.

First Ward Alderman Parks Smith, in whose ward the park is located, said the New Albany Kiwanis Club furnished the last amount, about $20,000, that was needed to acquire and install the new children’s play facilities.

Other organizations that contributed money for the new equipment were Baptist Memorial Hospital-Union County and the New Albany Pilot Club. The City of New Albany paid $10,000 of the funds needed.

The Northside Garden Club is donating a bench and a “little library” for the park.

Work on installing the equipment was done during December, 2021, and January, 2022, by workers from the New Albany Street Department and the New Albany Parks and Recreation Department. (See photos below)

Johnny Payton is Director of the Street Department and Chase Jeter heads the Parks Department.

The Alabama Street Park is intended for the use of neighborhood children and the adults responsible for them. The park is bounded by Alabama, Monroe and Broad Streets and is open year around during daylight hours.

Alabama Street Park Project