Published Tuesday, May 06, 2008

City re-dedicates park on Farmer

By Elizabeth Richardson

The Times-Herald

Tuesday's rededication of Newnan's C. Jay Smith Park breathed new life into a part of Newnan's history.

Two distinguished guests at the park rededication Tuesday had been present at the original park dedication held in 1964.

The C. Jay Smith Park was formerly known as the Old Mill ball park, which is at the corner of Farmer Street and Glenn Street. The land was purchased from the Newnan Cotton Mills Foundation and renamed in 1962. The park was named in honor of Smith, who was a prominent Newnan banker and a former official of the city.

At Tuesday's 11 a.m. event, Smith's grandson, Ren Brennan, was in attendance to share stories about Smith and the park as he remembered it growing up.

"My grandpa was a self-made man who never lost his roots," said Brennan, who now resides in Atlanta. "He loved this town. I am proud to be his grandson."

Brennan went on to say that his grandfather was the type of man who would make loans "on just a handshake."

Ed Long, a former city councilman who had also attended the park's dedication in 1964, was present Tuesday at the rededication. Long had been the chairman of the original park committee, and Tuesday he boasted that the city is "still doing a beautiful job."

Mayor Keith Brady spoke briefly at the event, thanking State Sen. Mitch Seabaugh, and State Reps. Lynn Smith and Billy Horne for helping get a $30,000 state grant that helped fund the park's facelift. Newnan contributed an additional $11,000.

Park renovations include new playground equipment, refurbished dugouts, new roofs for the dugouts and a ticket booth.

The work was completed by the city's building department.

Brady dedicated the park to the children in the surrounding neighborhoods. Mayor Pro-tem Cynthia Jenkins, Councilman Ray Dubose, Brennan, Seabaugh, Councilman Clayton Hicks and Brady participated in the official ribbon-cutting ceremony.