Warner Robins breaks ground at Deloris Toliver Park

The groundbreaking ceremony for the renovation of Deloris Toliver Park began Wednesday morning at 10:00 a.m. with an introduction by Warner Robins Mayor, Randy Toms. Residents, council members, and project employees gathered at the park located at 116 Wallace Drive to officially mark the start of its transformation. According to Jarred Reneau, Director of the Warner Robins Recreation Department, additions to the park include a brand new full-size gymnasium, concession stands, and a police precinct, and should take approximately eight months to complete. Toms thanked the community and everyone involved in the project and spoke about the unity he believed it will bring to the area. “This is a great day in Warner Robins and this park is going to be everything that it should be,” he stated; “this is going to be a great place to come and enjoy family and enjoy fellowship, and I’m excited about the dedication and the work that has gone into this park.” He led the group in a prayer and then passed the microphone to City Council member Clifford Holmes of the Post Five district.

Holmes welcomed everyone to the ceremony and explained that this is a project that is going to be worth much more than the money it costs because it is serving the community. He asked for the residents to “Help me help you change the stigma that is out there about this area. This is a good area.” Many of the residents in attendance have children who play at the park and many played there when they were children as well. He thanked everyone for coming, Reneau for taking on the challenge, and the other council members for all their work, before handing off the microphone to City Council member Mike Davis.

Davis explained that he grew up in the area and wanted to “make sure we get things done on this side of Watson Boulevard, which is just as important as any other part of town. I’m excited mainly just to see us moving dirt and getting something done. We’ve talked long enough and it’s time to get to moving.” He ended by mentioning that he played ball at the park when he was younger too.

Tim Thomas of the Warner Robins City Council thanked a number of people involved in the park renovation, including Parrish Construction Group and J.M.A. Architecture, Inc. He also thanked those who helped keep the park safe in the past and then reminded everyone that there will be a police precinct built on-site to help keep the kids safe. Thomas ended by thanking everyone for attending.

“It is an honor to be here today,” said City Council Member Carolyn Robbins; “It’s going to be wonderful for the children and everyone else who comes to play.” Toms then introduced Alton Mattox, retired Warner Robins City Clerk and educator, who thanked “each and every one” involved for their efforts. Mattox spoke about Deloris Toliver, who lost her life at the age of 18 due to an accident, and expressed his appreciation and gratitude that she was given the “respect and recognition that she so richly deserved” with the park being name after her. He recognized and thanked original City Council members and asked them to stand, before thanking the mayor, current City Council members, and residents as well.

Toms returned to the podium to thank Parrish Construction Group for their great job, and introduced Charlie Griffis, Senior Vice President of the company. Griffis expressed his excitement about the project and talked about the community and the great experiences that the park will bring. Project Director with J.M.A. Architecture, Inc., Jim Mehserle spoke next and thanked the Mayor and City Council for their resources before stating, “This is going to be a wonderful project and it is our hope that it will serve this community, this city, for many, many years to come.” Chad Bryant of Bryant Engineering then expressed his gratitude and excitement about the project and “seeing these designs come to life.”

Reneau was then introduced by Toms as “a young man who has done an incredible job for the city of Warner Robins since becoming the Recreation Department Director.” Reneau stated that “every project has a story, and this story is different… it means something to all of us;” he recently discovered that his own father played softball at the park as a young adult. Reneau expressed his excitement about the upcoming improvements, the impact that they will have on the community, and the memories the young people will make there throughout their lifetimes. He mentioned that Ada Lee Park began with about only four kids playing there and now usually has 40 or 50 on any afternoon “because we invested back into our community.” Reneau thanked the community and everyone involved, and concluded by stating that he wants to “make this a safe haven where kids can come and enjoy their time with fun, fellowship, and growth.”

Toms spoke one final time to recognize and thank all Warner Robins city employees before commencing the groundbreaking, where participants lined up, placed hardhats on their heads, grabbed the shovels, dug them into the ground, and ceremoniously threw dirt to celebrate the upcoming renovations.

When asked the reasons for the additions to Deloris Toliver Park, Reneau answered that the city programs need more gyms and this side of town, north of Watson Boulevard, has never had a gym. He continued that the park will be great for the community and one of their goals is to construct gyms, playgrounds, and facilities “all throughout the city so that everyone from every corner can have access to some type of recreation.” The project is being funded by a few different sources including SPLOST, HUD (Department of Housing and Urban Development), general funding, and city bonds.

Reneau is glad that the Toliver family has this park by which to remember Deloris.