Bessemer City Awarded $500,000 for New Park

McGill Associates is pleased to announce that the City of Bessemer City has been awarded $500,000 in government funding to aid the City’s North Park Phase I project.

McGill assisted the City with site design, budget development and environmental review of the site for the Parks and Recreation Trust Fund (PARTF) grant.

Bessemer City was one of 32 local government agencies to receive funding for land acquisition, development and renovation of public park and recreation areas. According to the Parks and Recreation Authority, $500,000 is the maximum award that can be granted to a single project.

The North Park Project is an important endeavor because it will inevitably attract business and economic development opportunities as well as improve the quality of life for the City’s residents. The park is strategically located between socio-economically distinct neighborhoods and will serve as a bridge to low, moderate, and above-average income families living in adjoining neighborhoods. Additionally, the park is directly connected to Bessemer City Central Elementary and Bessemer City Primary School and is in walking distance to Bessemer City High School, surrounding churches, and the community garden. The accessibility of the park will open the door to increased opportunities for local students and families to engage in recreational and youth development activities.

To increase recreational activities, Phase I of the new park will contain four baseball diamonds for baseball and softball programs, pickleball court, cornhole pits, and a walking trail (0.4 miles) around the perimeter of the baseball diamonds. With the installation of these outdoor fields, the City hopes to hold baseball and softball tournaments at this site, which will draw in visitors and create a tourism market.

McGill Associates is excited to be involved with this important project.