ATHENS-The City of Athens is kicking off work on the first construction phase of Sunrise Park on Pryor Street.
Athens and its partners held a groundbreaking today for the phase that will include a splash pad, inclusive
playground, landscaping, parking, bathrooms, shelter, roadwork and underground utilities. The City held public
input meetings during the design phase and received feedback about the need for a splash pad and more
inclusive playground opportunities.
The estimated construction timeline for the splashpad and playground is three to four months. The estimated
timeline for the entire phase is six to eight months.
“This is a long-awaited step in the process to take an abandoned chicken plant on 32 acres near the heart of our
city and turn it into an asset where families can enjoy the outdoors,” Mayor Ronnie Marks said. “I want to thank
our City Council for seeing the importance of this project and supporting the vision.”
The site is on the former Pilgrim’s Pride property that was abandoned when the company closed its Athens plant
in 2009. Mayor Marks and staff negotiated for multiple years and finally secured an agreement from Pilgrim’s to
sell the site to Athens in 2017.
Martin and Cobey is serving as project manager. Alta Planning and Design, AMBL Studios and Morell
Engineering worked with Athens on the design, and Recreational Concepts will construct the splash pad and
playground. The collaboration led to the City of Athens receiving the Alabama Planning Association – Alabama
Chapter (ALAPA) 2024 Award for Outstanding Planning for a Plan for Communities with a Population Under
50,000 for Sunrise Park.
“Recreation continues to grow in Athens, and I have no doubt this will be a heavily used park,” Athens
Recreation Director Bert Bradford said.
The furnishings, splash pad and playground, civil and utilities work, general work, site electrical and landscaping
is about $6.6 million. The City of Athens received the over $1 million in grants and sponsorships for this part of
the project and allocated funding from the Athens G.O. Warrants Series 2024 Funds toward a majority of this
portion of the project.
Funders thus far are:
Limestone County Legislative Delegation – $28,967.50 community grant for project
Dekko Foundation – $250,000 grant toward playground and splash pad
Tennessee Valley Authority – $50,200 grant for native trees
Alabama Mountain Lakes RC&D – $7,598 for benches, trash receptacles and picnic tables
ADEM – $570,841.50 for watershed type activities (native vegetation, permeable pavers, bioswales,
etc.)
ADEM – $100,000 for Phase 1 and Phase 2 environmental testing
Athens Ladies Civitan – $7,500 toward the wheelchair swing
In addition, Keep Athens-Limestone Beautiful is working with the City to provide volunteer hours and educational
outreach for the ADEM grant.
As part of today’s groundbreaking, the Athens Mayor’s Youth Commission held its monthly meeting at Sunrise
Park. KALB and the Limestone County Extension Office held an educational program for Youth Commissioners
about the negative impact of litter and pollution on the environment and the importance of protecting water
quality.
The Youth Commission is comprised of students in 10-12 grades from Athens High School, Athens
Renaissance, Athens Bible School and Lindsay Lane Christian Academy.
