Vina spends $50K to upgrade park

VINA — Mayor Sue Raper said concerns about deteriorating playground equipment at the park helped spark a broader effort to improve and beautify the town’s main community gathering space.

Raper said her daughter first raised concerns after taking her grandchildren to the park last fall and noticing worn areas on the playground equipment.

“We start trying to find playground stuff,” Raper said. “We decided new was better, even though it was more expensive. It was going to last us longer than just replacing parts.”

Town clerk Lisa Mason said $50,000 has been invested so far into park improvements.

The work has included new playground equipment, resurfacing and repainting tennis courts, adding pickleball lines, pressure washing the basketball court and pavilion, painting bathrooms, and general cleanup work.

Raper said the old playground equipment dated to about 2003. Rplacement parts alone were expected to cost between $16,000 and $17,000.

She said the town funded the project with local money after deciding not to wait for grant opportunities because the park needed immediate attention.

William and Jane Osterhout help their mom, Taylor Osterhout, with the new community garden at the park in Vina.

Raper said planning began shortly after she took office in November 2025 with major work beginning in February. She said town employees handled much of the labor with some help from outside contractors.

The new equipment was purchased through Creative Play Solutions of Cullman for $33,434, including installation.

Deteriorating railroad ties around the playground were replaced as a new border designed to help contain pea gravel.

Raper said the park serves as an important gathering place for the community.

“We don’t have businesses and industry to give us a town center,” Raper said. “This is our center, the community park.”

The park includes tennis and pickleball courts, a basketball court, a pavilion, a walking track, and a Little League baseball field.

Raper said town residents are making regular use of the updated facilities, including the new pickleball courts and resurfaced tennis courts.

Amber Bohannon said the improvements have helped provide activities closer to home for local families. She said her daughter previously had to travel outside Vina to practice on a quality tennis court. She said the addition of pickleball courts has also given residents another recreational option.

Raper said the town is also looking at future improvements, including repainting the lines on the basketball court, replacing Bradford pear trees, and improving the Little League field.

Recently, Taylor Osterhout began a community garden initiative at the park.