Wetumpka, AL: On Friday, June 30, 2023, the Mid-South RC&D Council, a nonprofit organization dedicated to meeting local needs, gathered to celebrate the purchase of new playground equipment at Crenshaw Park during a session of the summer-long children’s activities program with Sen. Will Barfoot (SD-25), Rep. Troy Stubbs (HD-31), and the Elmore County Commission. The Revitalization of Crenshaw Park, conducted in partnership with the commission, was funded in the fiscal year 2022 and won the Alabama Association of RC&D Council’s award for Project of the Year for its long-term community impact. 

Crenshaw Park is a hotspot for many Elmore County residents. The park serves as the voting center for precinct 0171 and hosts a summer activity program for local children. However, the park needed crucial safety enhancements and updates. 

With a budget of $40,000, the park’s revitalization began with the commission making improvements and renovations to the basketball court, baseball field, and facility building. To help ‘fill the gaps,’ the Mid-South RC&D Council funded $14,561.76 for playground equipment, including a geodome, triple-shoot basketball goal, and conga drums. The combined efforts of the commission and the Mid-South RC&D Council benefited nearly 20,000 citizens within a five-mile radius of Crenshaw Park. 

“Everytime we are faced with community needs, everyone thinks the county has ample revenue to be able to address them. When opportunities like the Mid-South grant become available, it’s the perfect opportunity for us to be able to partner and leverage the funds that we have,” said Richie Beyer, Elmore County Commission Chief Operations Officer.

The land for the park was donated in 1982 by Courtney and Hertisene Crenshaw. It was their vision to have a safe place for community members to come together and enjoy recreation while engaging local children in sports and outdoor activities. 

“This project is very important to me because it’s doing exactly what we see is happening today: outreach. Outreach is everything…In my first years as commissioner, the park was hardly used.

In the last year, I have seen more and more people sign up to utilize the facilities. The park is live, and Mid-South RC&D helped bring the life back to this park,” said Elmore County Commissioner and Mid-South council member Desirae Lewis-Jackson.

The Mid-South RC&D Council is proud to support partners like the Elmore County Commission and help impact the local community’s economy, natural resources, and quality of life that will be felt for generations to come. Read more about the press event by visiting elmoreautauganews.com. 

Mid-South RC&D grants are used to fund projects taking place in one or more of the eight counties served by the Mid-South RC&D Council: Butler, Bullock, Elmore, Lee, Lowndes, Macon, and Montgomery. The application minimum is $5,000. Consumable items are not valid grant expenses. The office is located at 2740 Central Parkway in Montgomery, AL. For more information, please contact the office staff at (334) 356-1855.