Zebulon Park gets new fountain, walking track, landscaping

The Zebulon City Park will have a new look by the New Year as work is ongoing to improve the facility for the community. The park already has three pavilions as well as several swings, a walking trail and a large five-tiered water fountain that was installed recently. The park’s walking track is being extended all the way around the park, a paved path will be added from the main pavilion to the restrooms and concrete pads will be added under each pavilion and swing set. ’We are hoping to have it all done pretty soon,’ said city administrator Larry Mitcham. ‘Funding for a large part of the beautification projects came from the Nelson Memorial Fund. We hope that when it is finished that many more people will come out and use it.’ A second phase of the project would be to move the playground equipment closer to the main pavilion if possible. Landscaping will also be improved at the park, with the Crape Myrtle Garden Club planning the addition of crape myrtle bushes, trees and a mixture of other blooming plants. ’The Crape Myrtle Garden Club helped plan the improvements and will plant crape myrtle bushes to block the view of the storage buildings next to the park,’ said Zebulon mayor Bobby Blalock who is an instrumental member of the garden club. ‘We are going to create a little walk around the fountain and place shrubs and plants around the outside of that.’ A brass plaque in honor of the Nelson Memorial Fund will be placed in the park, probably at the fountain. The Crape Myrtle Garden Club plans to help pay for a stage to be installed after the first phase of work is complete. ’Once everything is finished, we will have a special presentation and give credit where it is due,’ said Blalock.The city of Zebulon’s Christmas in the Park event will be held the first Saturday in December. The park will be wheelchair accessible after the improvements are completed. ’These improvements will make the trail a lot more accessible and the park more beautiful,’ said Mitcham. ‘We hope to have it done by the end of the year.’