By Robert Cox
Children in Berryville now have a new place to play.
The Berryville City Council heard a report from Mayor Tim McKinney regarding the new playground at the Freeman Avenue soccer complex.
“It’s complete and ready to use,” McKinney said. “That was partially funded by a grant.”
McKinney added that a portion of the grant money the city received will also be used to upgrade the park at the city pool complex.
“We’ve got to replace the surface and put in [some money] for the sidewalk and some parking spaces,” McKinney said. “That was part of the grant, where you got points to make something [Americans with Disabilities Act] accessible.”
McKinney added that the city’s Parks department would also be completing some repairs to the playground equipment at the pool park.
“Structurally, it’s still pretty sound,” McKinney said, “but there’s some places where it needs some welds and a few things like that and repainted. When they get the new surface in there, I think it’s going to be good.”
McKinney also shared news about the planned walking path from the spring to the Berryville Community Center.
“We are hopefully getting into the final design stages of the grant that will take the sidewalk from the spring up around Church Street and back to the Community Center,” McKinney said. “And then we’ll be doing the trail from the spring down the creek to the Community Center. We’ll be doing that ourselves. It’s a good winter project for the Parks guys.”
In other business, the council reviewed the monthly report from the city’s Saunders Museum.
“It’s holding steady with the current conditions,” said council member Linda Riddlesperger, citing the summer heat, COVID-19 and rising fuel prices as contributing factors to the lower-than-expected numbers.
“People aren’t moving very far in very big circles,” McKinney added.
The report, prepared by museum director Joan Lasseter and issued for the month of July, showed the museum hosted 194 visitors — 175 adults and 19 children — and took in $1,299, including $922.50 in admission fees, $331.50 in merchandise sales and $45 in donations.
“We’ve got to get some more T-shirts ordered,” said Riddlesperger, who volunteers at the museum. “They’re selling out.”
Last year, the museum hosted 269 visitors in July and took in $1,373.25.
The council voted to approve the Carroll County Fair Association’s request to hold its annual parade traveling the usual route from Carl Avenue through the downtown square to the Berryville Community Center. The parade is expected to feature floats, horses and emergency services vehicles. The 2022 Carroll County Fair officially kicks off Friday, Aug. 19, with the annual rodeo, with activities continuing through Saturday, Aug. 27.
The council’s next meeting is scheduled for 6 pm Tuesday, Aug. 16, at Berryville City Hall.