Jones, Morris Tell A-P Neighborhood About Citizens Academy, Dog Park Plans

 
By Shannon McFarlin WENK/WTPR News Director
 
Paris, Tenn.—Paris City Commissioner Jackie Jones and Economic Development Director Jennifer Morris spoke to the Atkins-Porter Neighborhood Association Tuesday night, informing members of the latest activities and future plans for the city of Paris. Those plans include the upcoming Citizens’ Government Academy and further improvements to the city dog park located in the A-P Neighborhood.
 
Jones said she is especially excited about the upcoming Citizens’ Government Academy which is being formed. Applications for citizens to join will be sent out shortly, she said.
 
The Academy will be a way for citizens to participate more fully in their local government and learn firsthand about the city’s activities and programs. The Academy will meet regularly beginning in August. Anyone who is interested in participating can call City Hall at 641 1402.
 
Jones said, “I’m excited about this because this is a way that citizens can learn about what we’re doing and why and they can help us tell the story.”
 
Jones and Morris presented a slide presentation of current projects including the plans for a Splash Pad and Water Recreational Area for the Eiffel Tower Park and the city’s alley projects.
 
Morris announced that the city has applied for a $25,000 grant to further improve the city dog park located at the Atkins-Porter Recreation Area. A ribbon-cutting will be held once the plans are formally announced and Morris said, “We’d like to announce an official name for the dog park at that time.”
 
Both Morris and Jones said they are asking A-P residents to suggest names for the park. “We’ve already been thinking of calling it the ‘Atkins-Porter Bark Park’ or ‘Central Bark’. But we’d like to hear everyone else’s suggestions,” Jones said.
 
Jones also said the city has formed a speaker’s bureau and that she and other city representatives can be called upon to speak to community groups.
 
In other business:
 
–Atkins-Porter members discussed the upcoming Downtown Paris Ice Cream Social, set for 4-6:30 p.m. Sheree Johnson is chairing the committee that will organize the A-P Neighborhood booth and she asked for volunteers and donations of ice cream and root beer.
 
–River Byrd gave an update of progress on the Atkins-Porter Community Park located on Jackson Street.
Photo: Jackie Jones, standing, and Jennifer Morris, in green, present a program on city activities to the Atkins-Porter Neighborhood Association. (Shannon McFarlin photo).