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Tyrone Council takes heat on Shamrock Park library proposal

By LEE WILLIAMS
lwilliams@TheCitizenNews.com

Armed with a $6,000 diagram, Councilman Mike Smola described the Tyrone Town Council’s plans for the new $1.7 million library complex to about 50 residents Aug. 18 at Town Hall.

But Smola’s presentation did little to sway the opinions of many. Nineteen people questioned the town’s plan, and a large portion of those who spoke criticized it.

“We have been looking for what I would call a catalyst, something to jump-start development in downtown Tyrone,” Smola told the crowd.

Smola said the council has been looking for something that would attract people downtown, something that the community could be proud of.

Smola named four potential library sites and stressed the council wanted to break ground around the first of the year.

The first was a two-acre site downtown that would cost about $300,000 to develop. The second was a two-acre site donated by John Wieland Homes. The two-acre site would be located behind Southampton subdivision on Old Swanson Road. The third site was at Handley Park. The fourth site was at Shamrock Park.

Smola said he believed Shamrock was “the most desirable.” The library would overlook a “lake” and feature walking trails.

If Shamrock Park was used, the basketball and tennis courts would be moved to the back of the park. Another tennis court would be added and the recreation center would be used to separate them to eliminate distractions between players, Smola said.

The baseball fields once at Shamrock Park have been moved to Handley Park.

Smola disputed the rumor that the library would be used as an amphitheater similar to The Villages in Fayetteville and The Fred in Peachtree City. “There is an amphitheater in the design of the library complex,” Smola said.

The amphitheater could be used for events such as Christmas caroling and summer reading by a librarian, Smola indicated, but paid performances would be a no-no. The town doesn’t have the parking, Smola said.

The town didn’t have a clear title to Shamrock Park, so Smola asked the Fayette County Commission Aug. 11 to release the deed restriction on Shamrock. The commission asked him to put the request in writing.

If the county lifts a deed restriction that only allows the park to be used for recreation, Smola indicated he would like the library complex to be built there.

But several residents including Judy Jefferson, a representative of Tyrone Neighborhood Council who spoke on behalf of 20 neighborhoods, told the council she disagreed.

Jefferson criticized the council for not seeking input and feedback from the citizens before moving forward with its plans to find a site for the 8,000 square-foot library.

“There’s 20-something neighborhoods not on your side because what we don’t know, we’re down on. What we know about, we’re up on. It’s as simple as that and I don’t think we need to be treated like children,” said Jefferson, a former principal of the prestigious Woodward Academy in south Fulton County.

Jefferson and several other residents including former Tyrone Councilman Hank Sanak told the council using Shamrock Park for the library site was not an option.

“I don’t feel like we need to lose this park that’s in the center,” Sanak said. “We need to keep this area as a park and not an athletic field. A nice, family-oriented park.”

Dennis Chase, a retired fish and wildlife biologist who lives in Tyrone, echoed Sanak’s sentiments.

Chase called Fayette County’s deed restriction to only allow Shamrock Park to be used for recreation a stroke of genius.

“Let’s not go there,” Chase said. “Let’s not ask for withdrawal of a condition that will make this available for city council members 10 years down the road to do who knows what out there. It’s there. It’s got a purpose. It’s got a use right now.”

During the meeting, Jefferson, the Tyrone Neighborhood Alliance representative, reiterated the group’s position.

“We don’t want it,” Jefferson said. “We want a library, but we aren’t willing to give up that park. You have a responsibility to listen to us. I certainly hope that you will invite us to be part of the process of looking for a place for our library and keeping the park at the same time. I think we can do both.”

An item to grant authorization for Mayor Sheryl Lee to request release from a deed restriction on Shamrock Park was on the Aug. 18 agenda. But the item was tabled at Smola’s request.

The council plans to mail out a copy of the diagram to all Tyrone residents, present the idea to the Tyrone Planning Commission at 7 p.m. Aug. 25, and solicit feedback at a special booth on Founder’s Day from Sept. 13-17.