SILVERHILL, Alabama — Oscar Johnson Park is now open after being closed for nearly six months following the devastation from Hurricane Sally in September.
Mayor Jared Lyles said the park reopened on March 1 and is now safe for visitors after city crews and outside contractors repaired significant damage to the park.
“I can’t say enough about our city crews that have been working overtime since the storm to get the park back in shape and make it safe for everyone who visits the park,” Lyles said.
Sally made landfall as a Category 2 hurricane in the early morning hours of Sept. 16 causing extensive damage countywide, including damage to the pavilion at Oscar Johnson Park, which has stood in some capacity for around 80 years, Lyles said.
“Trees fell on the pavilion ripping off a major portion of the front part of the structure,” Lyles said. “I want to give a special thanks to Clayton Salter who did a great job putting the pavilion back together.”
Town employees were also able to repair an arbor area, a covered seating area in the park, which was also damaged during the storm, Lyles said.
Lyles also expressed gratitude to the Greenco, who contracted with the town for debris removal, in helping to remove the large amount of trees downed in the park, particularly around the park’s creek area. As many as 30 trees were damaged by the storm, Lyles said in an interview in September.
“They did a great job removing all the damaged trees while causing minimal damage to the ground, particularly around the creek area,” Lyles said.
Because several trees had to be removed from the park, Lyles said, a significant amount of grass was also damaged during and following the storm. The damaged grass was replaced largely without cost to the town, thanks to a donation from Southland Sod, Lyles said.
Town employees also filled in sand around all the playground areas at the park.
“I just want everyone to know that the park is now open to the public,” Lyles said, “and is safe for everyone to use.”
