The City of Thomasville is launching a visioning project for park improvements at Balfour Park. The initiative is based on recommendations from the citywide Parks and Recreation Master Plan that was created in 2023, and the City is looking to the community for additional input on the future of Balfour Park.
The purpose of this project is to create a master plan of park improvements specifically for Balfour Park. “The City of Thomasville hired a professional design team from Kimley-Horn and Associates, Inc. to help us bring the community’s vision for Balfour Park to life,” noted City Planner Kenny Thompson. The design team will create a master plan of phased park improvements and develop a design concept for Phase 1 implementation and construction.
Community Planner Anna Day reiterated that the purpose of the visioning project is to ensure that the park’s future design and programming is community driven. “Including the community in the planning and design process gives our residents and park users an opportunity to share their individual needs, perceptions, and desires for Balfour Park,” said Day. “We’ll rely on the community’s input to help us determine and prioritize the future features and programming at Balfour Park.”
An online community survey to capture public input will be open through October 4th. The survey link can be found by visiting the City of Thomasville website at Thomasville.org. The community is also encouraged to attend the Balfour Park Visioning Charrette on Saturday, September 28th from 9:00 to 11:00 am at the Thomasville Community Resource Center, 501 Varnedoe Street. During this event, the design team will present their preliminary ideas for the park’s design, and City of Thomasville staff will be available to answer questions and gather feedback on the direction of Balfour Park.
Thompson credits the Thomasville City Council with prioritizing Balfour Park improvements and implementation of the Parks and Recreation Master Plan. “We are fortunate to have a Council that appreciates the value and potential of our parks system and wants to ensure our residents have equitable access to quality facilities throughout the City.”
For more information about the Balfour Park visioning project, please visit the project webpage at thomasville.org/balfour-park or email the City of Thomasville Planning Department at planning@thomasville.org.