Smyrna to receive $212K in federal funds

Because of federal funding, various park improvements may take place in Smyrna this year.

The Smyrna City Council voted 7-0 on April 20 to continue the city’s participation in the Cobb County Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) Program to receive a city grant of about $212,178.

That money will come from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD).

This amount is subject to change should HUD release more funds to Cobb County, according to City Manager Tammi Saddler Jones.

Part of the federal money will pay the $36,245 salary for Mary K. Arvin , a Smyrna staff member who coordinates CDBG for the city.

The remainder of the money is $175,933 that will be used for public facilities in the city.

Saddler Jones said the city has been receiving this money from HUD for probably 10 years.

The HUD money is supposed to be used to benefit those with low to moderate incomes, she added.

Recent expenditures have been invested for parks, public works and a code enforcement officer, Saddler Jones said.

Proposed projects for this new funding include:

• a new family restroom for senior citizens (ages 55+) at Aline Wolfe Adult Recreation Center, 884 Church St. SE.
• renovation of Rose Garden Park, 1870 Teasley Road, a nine-acre park.
• a second American Disabilities Act (ADA) playground for Cobb Park and Kidscape Village I & II, 950 Powder Springs St. on nearly six acres. Smyrna Parks and Recreation Department Director Richard Garland said the upper playground is handicap accessible but not the restroom or the four other play areas.

Councilwoman Susan Wilkinson said she would like to see future CDBG funds used in other parts of the city where parks have been requested such as north of Windy Hill Road, west of South Cobb Drive and some areas in the southern part of the city.