Kannapolis park gets new name

KANNAPOLIS — City Council voted unanimously Monday to rename Town Park to Veterans Park, and, in doing so, took a step toward permanently recognizing the city’s fighting men and women.

The park on Main Street will officially receive its new name and be dedicated at a May 28 Memorial Day ceremony honoring veterans. Their organizations use the park annually for the observance.

“I’ve talked to veterans’ organizations, and they’re very delighted” with the name change, said Mayor Ray Moss, who is scheduled to make the formal dedication at the Memorial Day service.

The city began to consider renaming the park several years ago and formed a committee to study the idea. The committee included councilmen representing veterans of three of this country’s 20th-century wars.

Councilman Phil Meacham represented World War II veterans; Councilman Bob Misenheimer spoke for Korean War veterans; and Councilman Randy Cauthen represented veterans of the Vietnam War.

City leaders said last week that a permanent memorial to the city’s soldiers may be added to the park. Veterans’ organizations have said they would support such a venture.

In other action, the council:

• Approved a $600,864 contract with Ray Construction for street paving and resurfacing projects throughout the city, including some gravel roads. The contract represents the first year of a two-year plan for spending federal money earmarked for street work.
• Approved paying BFI $77,130 for the rollout garbage containers residents now use. The city starts a contract with a new trash hauler July 1 and has elected to buy containers rather than lease them.

Along with the new contract comes a new collection schedule for some residents. The current Monday-Thursday collection schedule will be extended to Monday-Friday. Residents whose collection day is changed will be notified.

• Approved spending $40,000 to begin design work on Irish Buffalo Creek Park. Starting with design now will enable the city to open the park for play in spring 2002, while waiting for the results of a grant application could delay the opening up to a year, said Assistant City Manager Mike Legg.
• Approved amendments to the Crisco Road Area Plan that encourage more office, institutional and multi-family uses on property fronting Crisco Road, the alignment of the future Kannapolis Parkway.
• Approved uses for the city’s annual allotment of federal and state housing improvement funds, including $300,000 for home rehabilitation loans and $56,250 for urgent repairs.