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Residents petition for lighting, sidewalks and amenities at Diamond Lakes Park; commissioners direct staff to coordinate improvements
Summary
Residents presented a petition seeking safety and amenity upgrades at Diamond Lakes Park, including sidewalks, added lighting at Field 4, more covered pavilions, benches, cameras and traffic calming. Commissioners directed parks, engineering and central services to coordinate a plan; Jefferson Energy was identified as the utility that owns and
Community members presented a petition asking the commission to improve Diamond Lakes Park with additional lighting, sidewalks, pavilions, benches and safety measures; commissioners directed staff to coordinate and return recommendations within the next committee cycle.
Frank G. Howard and Octavia Collins, who identified themselves as petition organizers and neighborhood stakeholders, told the committee the park lacks adequate lighting, sidewalks and covered areas. Howard said families and older residents walk the park but face safety issues: “It was so dark outside,” he said of the park’s fields, and he requested that gates open earlier so morning walkers have access at 4:30 a.m. The petition calls for sidewalks on both sides of the corridor from Manchester Street to Willis Farrar (Willis Farmer) Road, additional covered pavilions and benches for older walkers, cameras to address safety concerns, speed bumps and small landscape islands to deter vehicle burnouts.
Parks and Recreation and engineering staff joined the discussion. Engineering Director Doctor Malik said park‑adjacent sidewalk or street projects require a design process that addresses drainage and right‑of‑way impacts and that federal funding for some nearby roadway projects limits scope changes. He confirmed the department uses landscape architects and on‑call subject matter experts and noted that sidewalk work can trigger separate drainage and utility work that increases cost and complexity.
Parks staff and the administrator said they would coordinate with engineering, central services and the county’s lighting contractor, Jefferson Energy, which owns and operates parking‑lot and street lighting in the park, to explore replacing or adding lights. The central services director agreed to contact Jefferson Energy and report back to commissioners and the petitioners.
Commissioners praised the petitioners’ work and directed staff to meet with parks, engineering and central services to develop prioritized, costed options and return within the next committee cycle (approximately two weeks). The committee voted to receive the petition and the staff was asked to provide a plan for lighting, sidewalks, security cameras and pavilions; no funding decision was made at the meeting.
