July is Parks and Recreation Month, and we're celebrating the progress of moving forward with several parks and recreation projects. 

 On June 16, 2022, the Parks and Recreation Committee met to discuss the progress of the Tier 1 park projects, the future improvement for North Highland Park, Spinners Park, Lorenzo "Lo" Pickett Park, and Tier 2 park projects. The Tier 1 projects consist of Stanley Jensen Stadium, Newton Park, and Pratt Park. Funding for these projects is made possible with a combination of Prattville's One Cent Sales Tax and American Rescue Act funds. The ACBOE has also committed to $ 1 million towards the stadium upgrades.

The Parks and Recreation Department continues to create opportunities for all within our community to lead healthy and active lives. See below for the progress of individual parks.

Stanley-Jensen Stadium:

Phase 1 of upgrades began on Monday, June 20, 2022, as contractors replaced the existing lights with a state-of-the-art LED lighting system. The new system allows for professional-level special effects and light shows for sports and events. 

Civil Southeast is working on the final drawings for the stadium renovation. The scope of work will include a new home stand, a south endzone structure featuring new locker rooms, new bathrooms and concessions, a north entry arch/ticketing office, South and North Parking lots, and a new digital scoreboard, entrance improvements, and landscaping. The bid opening is scheduled for October 2022.

Pratt Park: 

Built by the community, for the community in 1997, Pratt Park has been a wonderful place of play for over 25 years. "A Child's Place" was built for children to enjoy and explore, but it did not adapt for all children. After years of planning, the Parks and Recreation Department presented a new playground design that will be all-inclusive, increasing the quality of play for children of all abilities. 

With the newly designed playground approved, the Pratt Park Improvements project is in the bid phase for renovations only. During the July 5, 2022, City Council meeting, city councilors rejected all bids due to cost, and the project will rebid on 8/3/2022.  

Excluded from the bid process was the purchase and installation of the new playground equipment. The city purchased the equipment separately at a cost savings of 25%. The all-inclusive playground equipment will arrive in late July, and installation will begin in August 2022.

On July 13, 2022, city crews began work on removing the current equipment and plaques. Completion for this project is October 2022.

Newton Park Updates: 

Engineers of the South are currently working on the final design phase of the Newton Park renovations, and advertising for bids will begin in December 2022. The scope of work will include:

• Renovating existing tennis courts and adding five new tennis courts.
• Adding four new Pickleball courts.
• Upgrading the playground.
• Parking lot upgrades.
• A centrally located restrooms facilities.
• Creating a skate park area.

The scope of work is scheduled to be completed by May 2024. 

To view conceptual drawings for Tier 1 projects, please visit ProjectParks.

North Highland Park, Spinners Park, and Lorenzo"Lo" Pickett Park:

On June 21, 2022, the City Council accepted ownership by way of QuitClaim Deed of the North Highland Park from the ACBOE, allowing the city to move forward with future upgrades for the park. The city council also approved using $1 million of the ARPA Funds towards improvements in North Highland Park and bathroom upgrades for Spinners Park and Lorenzo "Lo" Pickett Park.