By By Kerry Whipple Bean – publisher
As Brewton prepares for another Alabama Blueberry Festival, a city committee is working to make sure the stage is set for next year - literally.
The Brewton Quality of Life Committee asked city council members Tuesday to support the building of a new stage at Burnt Corn Creek Park. The stage will be the first of several improvements and renovations at the park, which hosts the Blueberry Festival, the Blueberry Drop on New Year's Eve and several other events throughout the year.
The committee's timetable calls for the stage to be ready by Dec. 1, in time for the Blueberry Drop at the end of the month.
Council members approved three things for the committee: funds for an elevation survey of the property; a one-time donation equal to the cost of renting a stage; and the appointment of community development director Steve Yuhasz to be the city's liaison to the committee for the project.
The stage is just one of many plans for Burnt Corn Creek Park. Quality of Life Committee members have said they want also to build a visitor's center, skateboard area, splash fountain, pergola, and canoe dock. The city has also received a $514,000 grant to build a pedestrian and bike path from Burnt Corn Creek Park to O'Bannon Park.
The stage to be built this year will also have a pull-down screen to show movies, Gordy said.
The Quality of Life Committee held a Songwriters Festival at Burnt Corn Creek Park in February to raise money for the renovations, and that event is likely to become an annual festival.
The committee is also accepting donations from businesses and individuals for the park project. The cost of the entire project has been estimated at $1.5 million.