The wooden playground at Lee Park once stood regal, adorned with high castle turrets, wooden ladders and small murals tucked away in hidden corners.
Two decades later, the once-vibrant painted wood has faded, and a large black tire, which used to hang as a swing, sits on the floor of the castle. A wooden ladder, which used to bridge the parks’ landings, has been boarded off, and rusty screws stick awkwardly out of the wood.
But last week, renovations began to help bring the park back to its former glory.
Ward 3 Councilman Rusty Greene took the lead in starting the revitalization.
“Anybody who grew up in Columbus knew Lee Park, and so it’s always been a part of the community,” Greene said. “Riding by there, I just said it needs some love. … Hopefully, this will be a project we can be proud of and it’ll last for quite a few years.”
Renovations to the park were already planned for this year as part of the city’s $4.4 million plan to update parks, approved in May 2023. The city set aside $30,000 from the funds to renovate Lee Park’s bathroom, which has long been out of order, install a new swingset and trim overgrown trees.
The park was last renovated about five years ago, when rotted wood was replaced and re-stained.
But Greene, along with Ward 5 Councilman Gary Jefferson and local Realtor Colin Krieger, saw more that could be done. In early August, they met at the park and began planning for further enhancements.
So far, the group is eying additional lighting, security cameras, new picnic tables, minor repairs to the wooden playground, shrubbery and flowers as well as new and refurbished art, Krieger said.
“I think there’s a pure spirit behind it, and we’re just trying to get the place in ship shape, and we’re willing to take any input from anybody who wants to come,” Krieger said.
Since meeting in August, Krieger said he’s heard from more than 100 individuals and businesses willing to donate their time, money or services to the revitalization. Krieger said he expects most, if not all of the renovations to come from community donations.
“That’s part of the reason I’m flattered and overwhelmed by what’s come through so far,” Krieger said. “It’s been amazing and it shows the heart of how many people who grew up in that park and remember it.”
City work on the bathrooms began last week. The group heading the community renovations will host its first volunteer work day from 9 to 11 a.m. Sept. 27. Community members are invited to come out and help spread mulch across the playground. Krieger has asked volunteers to bring wheelbarrows, shovels, rakes, gloves and new ideas for what else can be done at the park.
Those who want to participate in the volunteer day can message Krieger through Facebook or contact him at (662) 329-7653.
“That’s what it takes on projects like this,” Greene said. “That’s how it got built, was people volunteering and wanting to help and seeing it through. So we’re going to take what they started and renovate it and get it back to its original glory.”
‘Many good things can happen’
The playground was established in 2000 by a small group of volunteers, led by the late Dave Taylor.
Local resident Katherine Mallory recalled being encouraged by Taylor to help revitalize the area, which then housed old and rundown equipment.
“It was overgrown, and there was a lot of activity going on that wasn’t necessarily conducive to a family atmosphere,” Mallory said. “We all just wanted to see our neighborhood in better shape than it was.”
Mallory helped sand down wood for the structure and recalled volunteers carving into and painting the wooden equipment. The group raised funds to build the playground by engraving community members’ names into fence posts, hundreds of which line the playground now.
It took two years and a diverse group of helping hands to complete the playground, Mallory said. Just a few years later, the founding group passed the torch to the next group of parents with young children.
Jennifer Brady recalled heading the picket fence sales a few years later, adding more names around the park and raising thousands more in funds to help maintain it. She and a couple dozen parents helped maintain the park for about six years.
“It was always such a treat to go and to swing and play and meet friends and have play dates and picnics,” Brady said, recalling the times she brought her two daughters to the park. “There were so many little birthday parties and end-of-the-year parties under that pavilion. It was just a wonderful, safe, clean, enjoyable place to gather and visit and let our children make lots and lots of good memories.
“If a group of volunteers could take interest in that area, then many, many good things can happen,” she added.
Krieger said he hopes to see renovations to the park completed later this fall, though finding artists to contribute to the structure may take a little longer.
“If everybody chips in a couple hours of help and a few dollars, I think by Thanksgiving we’re going to have a beautiful park again for everyone to enjoy,” Krieger said. “… That’s where I need the input of people in the creative space. I hope it continues to get more art and become a home and a spot for school kids to see artwork up there.”
Jefferson said after Lee Park is completed, he hopes to put just as much care into the other city parks.
“Lee Park is a cornerstone of our community, and so this right here is to just ensure that the families and children have a safe welcome place,” Jefferson said. “Prayerfully, we’re going to give all the parks the same love we’re showing this one.”
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You can help your community
Quality, in-depth journalism is essential to a healthy community. The Dispatch brings you the most complete reporting and insightful commentary in the Golden Triangle, but we need your help to continue our efforts. In the past week, our reporters have posted 35 articles to cdispatch.com. Please consider subscribing to our website for only $2.30 per week to help support local journalism and our community.
