CATLETTSBURG — On land where homes once stood over looking Lock and Dam 1 on the Big Sandy River, residents of Catlettsburg gathered Friday night to dedicate their newly renovated park.
It was dedicated in honor of Mayor Pauline Hunt, who served as city clerk and treasurer for 34 years before retiring last July. She became Catlettsburg’s first female mayor last year.
Hunt, whose father was a lockmaster and grew up where the park and floodwall now stand fondly recalled those days as did others.
The park “has a special meaning to my sisters and me,” she said.
Hunt said she can remember walking two of her sisters along the wall that surrounds the park.
According to Catlettsburg Leadership Community Development Club member and resident Betty Wright, a park was first created on the site in the mid-60s following the city’s purchase of the land from the federal government. The homes were demolished when the floodwall was built to protect the town from repeated devastating floods.
The first park, Wright said, was built by volunteers — a heritage the new park has continued.
Volunteers — many spurred to action by the passion of Hunt, her sister, Ann Bryan, Wright and many others — worked for more than a year to renovate the park.
Councilman Randall Peterman, who was also a driving force in the project donating his own time and labor to it convinced many others to do the same. On Friday he thanked and honored the other individuals and business owners who donated labor, machinery and materials to make the project possible.
“That’s what it takes to do things like this, it takes volunteers like that and it takes the community all coming together,” said Peterman.
Others echoed Peterman in their own remarks Friday and called for continued action by community members.
“It’s something we ought to be proud of,” said Stephen Spears, whose father was also a lockmaster. He too lived for several years in one of the homes where the park now stands.
“Pride in community is not something we should by shy or bashful about. Pride of community is something that can and should be contagious. In all my years here in our little town I don’t remember it every looking better, as clean as well kept as it is today,” he said.
“If you want to be a part of this growing trend in our town the only ability that is required of you is availability,” Stephens said.
“Look what happens to people’s dreams with hard work - hasn’t it become a beautiful reality,” said Wright, “When we see land as a community to which we belong we may begin to use it with love and respect. The park was built with total efforts of several people and the results are beautiful,” she said.
Under the leadership of the leadership community development club, preparations are being made to improve other city parks and create another facility along the riverbank behind the floodwall of the Oakland Avenue park.
CARRIE STAMBAUGH can be reached at cstambaugh@dailyindependent.com or (606) 326-2653.
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