By BOB SHRALUKA
WZBD.com
For Decatur City Councilman Scott Murray, looking backward is not productive as a community seeks to move forward.
Murray was one of some 60 people who attended a recent meeting called by the city administration to receive public input on proposed plans for a downtown park.
At least one person attending the meeting brought up a proposal for a park made several years ago by another administration, wondering why it is not being considered. Several comments on social media have raised the same question.
Murray made the point at the latest city council meeting that he was disappointed in what could be considered negativity.
“Things change,” he said. “People want to stop things, saying that years ago this was (the plan). I’m disappointed in that. Things change.
“People need to ask how they can help the city.”
“Social media is not the way to do it,” Mayor Dan Rickord added. “Come talk to us … come talk to us.”
The meeting was held to allow city residents the opportunity to check out concept renderings of three different proposals for a downtown park and to pose questions about same.
The park would be mostly located in the area of a city-owned parking lot on the west side of the St. Marys River, between Monroe and Jackson streets. A smaller portion would be situated on the east side of the river, beside Riverside Center.
The proposed park is likely a couple of years away from becoming a reality, but, as the mayor has said in the past, a plan is needed before applying for any grants: “Grants are out there, but you have to have a plan.”
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