Cleveland – Earlier this year, Project EverGreen named the Parks & Recreation Department of Clinton, North Carolina, as its winner of the “Our Winning Green Spaces” contest. As the contest winner, the department knew it would receive an Exmark Lazer Z X-Series mower package, but it did not expect a transformation at one of its parks. This summer, green industry companies helped to renovate one of the parks in the city.
Clinton’s Royal Lane Park experienced a renovation this summer. The park fell into disarray the last decade due to budget constraints and aging park amenities, so it was in need of an upgrade.
“Residents, guests and sports teams come to the park to take advantage of the fields, playgrounds, swimming pool and trails,” said Jonathan Allen, CPRP, director of parks and recreation for Clinton. “Because the fields are in constant use, there is little to no down time for the fields to recuperate.”
Numerous local green industry companies contributed to the renovation project which included the planting of nearly 100 trees, bushes, plants, applying of mulch, and installation of fencing around the playground which also had new equipment installed.
The park’s multi-purpose natural turf athletic field was laser graded, re-sodded and the outdated irrigation system was replaced with a new commercial quality system. Fertilizer and weed control treatments were applied to improve the health of the turf.
“Clinton residents and the neighborhood are the real winners,” said Cindy Code, executive director of Project EverGreen. “The improved park facilities and sports fields breathe new life into the environment and functions as the lungs of the community. Project EverGreen and our partners at STMA and Exmark were impressed with the quality of the application and the passion of the parks department.”
Nearly 150 children use the park and playground daily, and more than 500 young athletes participate in football and youth soccer leagues on the multipurpose field.
“This project breathed active life back into our park, community, and area,” Allen said. “It has allowed patrons to pursue more active and healthier lifestyles. This is important because our county is statistically one of the most unhealthy counties in North Carolina.”
Allen said the project brought together the community, city departments and outside organizations to make a more beautiful park and enhance the existing facilities.
The following companies participated in the park’s renovation:
• TLC, Inc. (landscaping)
• Well’s Brothers General Contractor and Carolina Green Corp. (field grading)
• Hrdrolynks (irrigation)
• Helena Chemical Co. (fertilizer and pest control)
• Exmark (mower)
• Buy Sod (Bermuda sprigging)
• NC/SC chapter of the STMA
The “Our Winning Green Spaces” contest is sponsored by Project EverGreen in partnership with Exmark Manufacturing, the Sports Turf Managers Association (STMA) and The Foundation for Safer Athletic Fields for Everyone (SAFE).
Since 2015, Project EverGreen’s community-based renovation projects have revitalized more than 750,000 square feet of athletic and recreational greens spaces in Atlanta, Cleveland, Detroit, Milwaukee; North Chicago, Illinois; Belle Plaine, Minnesota; Greensboro and Durham, North Carolina, San Antonio, Fort Worth and Round Rock, Texas; East Harlem, NYC; Hazlet, New Jersey, Portland, Oregon and San Marcos, California.