I was appointed co chair of the Shamrock Park Restoration Committee on Jan. 6, 2006, by Mayor Lee and the Tyrone Town Council.

In February 2006, a park survey was developed and approved by Mayor Lee. At the April 2006 Town Council meeting, I reported the results of that survey, conducted among the townfolks of Tyrone, regarding the priorities of the restoration of the park. This report remains the genesis of the conceptual master plan for Shamrock Park.

Early last spring the conceptual master plan for the park was presented to Mayor Lee and the council by Mr. Brian Hendry, the author of the plan. Experts in the fields of playground development, passive park planning and landscape architecture have had input into that plan. The plan has been accepted into the draft of the town’s 2007 comprehensive plan.

Since then I have met with [Town Manager] Barry Amos regarding the future of the plan and presented further suggestions from townfolks to Mayor Lee and the council. The plan should be available at the Town Hall. I also have copies.

To date the town administration has seen fit to support the plan and the ultimate restoration of Shamrock Park by doing the following:

• To budget no monies for further planning or the restoration.

• To spend $5,300 to put a new roof on the old pavilion. This funding came out of the $18,000 Fayette County gave Tyrone in 2006 for recreation.

• To give one five-gallon can of paint to the park cleanup volunteers on May 10, 2006, when they put a primer coat on the old pavilion.

• To correct an electrical code violation so the aeration fountain, donated by businesses and town-folks, for the park lake, could be installed.

• To allow the builder of the new library to dump fill dirt on the great lawn and seed it.

At a council meeting back in the spring I told the town administrator, the mayor and the council that until they are willing and able to support the park restoration with dollars and good spirit, all efforts to secure matching funds, in the name of grants and donations would be fruitless and embarrassing to the town of Tyrone.

When the time comes that we have the support needed to attract more friends of the park, an action plan will be in place.

Judy Jefferson

Tyrone, Ga.