The future of MacIntyre Park took center stage at a four-day workshop geared toward generating plans to improve the use of the park’s 14 acres of historical greenspace. During the week of October 26-29, more than 300 people including City of Thomasville staff, area students, education stakeholders and neighborhood citizens met with top design professionals to develop a masterplan for MacIntyre Park’s future.
“Maintaining the character of the park was a key theme that resonated with just about everyone. When people selected preferences among a variety of visual options in a public survey, we heard loud and clear a support for the native ecosystem and a request to make the creeks beautiful again,” explains City Planner Brian Herrmann. “We had approximately 800 surveys completed by citizens,” he added.
The creeks got extra attention from the students with a contest to name two of the three park waterways. Student groups produced compelling videos for review at the final evening of the charrette, demonstrating their position for a particular name. The winners are Sunbeam and Hero Creeks. Sunbeam Creek was suggested to honor the history of Sunbeam Bread and to acknowledge the importance of Flowers Foods, Inc. to the economic vitality of Thomasville. The second winning creek name is Hero Creek, which is intended to honor Thomasville’s local fallen veterans who have bravely served our country and paid the ultimate sacrifice.
Other key items addressed during the improvement planning process for MacIntyre Park included management of storm water to control flooding and erosion, use of the park as an outdoor classroom, improved play equipment and use of natural materials in the construction of any pathways. The in-progress community trail will pass through the park with little disruption of the existing greenspace.
For more information and to see the visuals that help describe the master plan, visit Thomasville.org.