Mike Kemp works Tuesday finishing the grout between bricks on a new cooking station at Ridge Ferry Park. Construction is set to be completed this week with six different grilling areas. (Jeremy Stewart, RN-T.com)
Crews are expected to complete the construction and installation of a new cooking station at the park this week that will allow up to six different parties to cook under the trees next to the Oostanaula River.
“It was an idea that we saw while on a staff retreat,” Rome-Floyd Parks and Recreation Authority Parks Superintendent Todd Wofford said.
“We’ve always had a problem with the metal grills down there rusting and not lasting long. We thought this would be a safer and better way across the board.”
The project, which is being supervised by Gary Victor at Classic Rock and Stone, LLC, began last Wednesday with the pouring of new concrete pads.
Some of the bricks used to construct the cooking station were salvaged from Memorial Gym, which once sat next to Barron Stadium.
Wofford said being able to recycle the bricks is an example of how they are trying to cut costs while still improving the quality of life for residents.
Once completed, the new station would have fire brick interiors and include areas to place buns and keep them warm.
Concrete specialist Mike Kemp was working on finishing the framework of the station Tuesday and said it had not been too difficult fitting the older bricks in with the new ones.
“I think what they’re doing is a good idea,” Kemp said.
Wofford said if the station proves popular, they consider adding another section and perhaps constructing a shelter over the grilling stations.
"What's hilarious is how you have me pegged as liberal, yet here I am spouting absolute personal responsiblity. Teaching your own kids, watching your own kids, not relying on the people putting up grills at the park to baby-sit your children. You're something else."
What? "not relying on the people putting up grills at the park to baby-sit your children"
That statement makes no sense.
Are you trying to convince me or yourself that you are not a liberal whining woman and you are not voter/karin/publicpeach? It sure seems strange that publicpeach was taking stabs from the sideline if she's not you.
I would love to be anywhere at anytime to see the look of terror and desperation on your face when you let down your guard for a minute and your child is not where you expected or have you never had your first experience yet of your child disappearing in a store or at the park from your sight? You are fooling yourself if you really think that your child is immune from what other children might get into at the park.
It speaks lots about your character to wish the fear of something happening to your child on someone else. I never eluded to wishing that on anyone-I vouched for teaching and watching your children, and not relying on others to take your child's safety into their hands. I actually worry about any children you have or may have had. There has to be balance-a healthy fear of what is out in the world, and a healthy confidence to still go out and explore it with common sense and awareness, that's all I tried to point out from the get-go and you went on the defensive as though I'd personally attacked you. You have problems. I'm done with your nonsense. Have a wonderful day!
You should work on your reading comprehension skills too. I never wished anything on your child. That's sick. I wished being there for the look on your face IF you ever "lost sight" of your child for second. If you've never had your child wander out of your sight in a store or at the park when they were young then you don't know terror. Nobody is wishing anything on your child. Fool.
It's you who is fooling herself that you actually have complete control over your child at all times while watching from a distance. Good luck with your little housewife bubble. And I hope you really are done with spewing your silly nonsensical accusations.
Good luck with that holier than thou attitude you have when others voice concerns for the safety of their children in a public park.
And you do find others to be "fools" for voicing such concerns. That is also obvious in your comments.
"Geeze", as you say.
Make fun of others for being what some would consider overly obsessive when watching their children. I suppose that might pass for a hobby.
How much do you want to bet that there will be a child barrier of some sort before the first charcoal is lit?
So, with that being said, if they build a child barrier of some sort, good, so be it! Because I guarantee there WILL be children who are completely unsupervised and whose parents have NOT taken the time to teach them proper safety precautions.
I hope you feel better now.
This is the best place for the grill. People can grill and keep a close eye on their kids. The current grills are just a few feet from the playground equipment now. Now everybody can be in one central location so they can keep their kids away from only one spot instead of multiple grilling locations.
Just acting like a whiney woman won't do much good. That kind of thing goes on deaf ears. Convincing arguments could work along with a real world solution if they buy your argument that a problem exists.