Tuesday, March 01, 2005

BCC funds Booth upgrade

The Birmingham City Commission Monday night approved a community developed master plan for Booth Park, and set aside more than $1 million in parks bond money to pay for it.

Preparation of the site for a community built playground is expected to begin in the fall of 2005, roughly coinciding with completion of the Harmon Street reconstruction project. Construction of the timber play structure, which will involve hundreds of volunteers, is expected to occur in the spring of 2006.

The measure passed on a unanimous vote, with Commissioner Gordon Thorsby absent.

The plans faced no significant opposition, though several commissioners expressed concerns about increased maintenance costs associated with the plan.

The money is expected to be drawn from $15.7 million in bonds already issued.

The commission praised the work of volunteer designers and others who donated an estimated $25,000 in professional fees to the project.

Jim Page, of Michel J. Dul & Associates Landscape Architects, was the lead designer on the project. Michael Willoughby, of Michael Willoughby & Associates Architects, and a member of the city's Architectural Review Committee, designed the park's shelter. Also contributing to the plan were Christopher Longe, a member of the ARC, and Mark Nickita, an urban planner and member of the city's Planning Board. The work was coordinated by resident Clinton Baller, editor of the Birmingham Buzz.

The community group has projected it will collect some $150,000 in private donations to help fund the project. Present at Monday nights meeting was Candy Rosenberg, who, with her husband Jeffery, has pledged $50,000 to the project.

Commission approval cleared the way for additional fundraising and other planning efforts. Already, some 200 adults have signed up to help build the play structure. Fundraising Chairman Dan Boorstein said several events are in the works, including one for adults and another for children. The Commission action also cleared the way for efforts to gain support from other major donors and local businesses.