$350,000 grant for improvements to Fayette

County's McCurry Park is included in state

appropriations for fiscal 2001, according to Sen.

Greg Hecht, a member of the Appropriations

Committee.

"I

am very pleased about the appropriation,"

said Hecht.

The

money will be used for parts of a master plan for

continued development of the park, said county

manager Billy Beckett.

gymnasium, a new Recreation Department office,

six tennis courts, additional walking paths and

other improvements are included in the plan.

"We

do have $350,000 worth of needs," said

Beckett.

County

Commission Chairman Harold Bost, who discussed

the pending appropriation with Hecht earlier in

the 2000 legislative session, said the county

plans to apply the funds to the gymnasium portion

of the planned park improvements.

"That's

the way we can get the most out of it the

quickest," said Bost.

Fayette's

County Commission agreed to match the state funds

as part of negotiations for the grant

appropriation, said Hecht.

"We

have worked long and hard over this complex

negotiation in the appropriations process,"

he said. "I am thrilled for the families of

Fayette County to be able to enjoy this new

recreation complex."

Other

appropriations for Fayette include money for a

baseball field for the town of Tyrone, and funds

to help in the restoration of the

Holliday-Dorsey-Fife House, centerpiece of

historic preservation efforts in Fayetteville.

"I

am truly ecstatic over the tremendous

appropriations for Fayette County in this

budget," said Hecht.

The

34th District Democrat represents portions of

Fayette, Clayton, Douglas and Fulton counties.

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