Jennings residents have voiced concerns regarding the city’s parks, calling for additional attention and improvements.

During Tuesday’s Jennings City Council meeting, residents questioned the current budget allocations and advocated for increased safety measures and maintenance.

Chris Lehman, a local resident, highlighted the long-standing neglect of Marcus Cain Park, suggesting that the park has not received adequate funding over the years, resulting in a lack of significant improvements.

“…It’s obvious that the park, for a long time, has needed upgrades that, over time, have kind of fallen behind,” Lehman said, noting that the construction of the pavilion in 2019 was the first notable improvement he has seen since returning to Jennings.

Councilwoman Carolyn Simon echoed these concerns, particularly regarding potential lead exposure from painted playground equipment, missing swings, broken park benches, insufficient fencing, and the need to replace mulch at the park.

“My main concern is for the safety of our children when they are playing,” she said. “The ornamental fence is much needed.”

Another resident, Carolyn Baker, noted Leroy Davis Park seems to receive attention only when community members submit complaints. She believes the park isn’t as well-maintained as other parks, and raised concerns about a lack of tree maintenance and an old water faucet needing attention.

Councilman Johnny Armentor also raised concerns about Franklin Park, pointing out issues such fences being removed, drainage problems, traffic encroaching on a nearby resident’s yard to access the park’s rear, and removal of the merry-go-round.

Armentor also urged the city to assess the condition of the pickleball court and address safety hazards like missing concrete and substandard pickleball fence poles.

“If somebody trips on that, the lawsuit is going to be way worse than bringing a merry-go-round back for the kids,” he said.

Armentor said while the city had previously budgeted $15,000 to $20,000 for Franklin Park improvements before Mayor Henry Guinn’s tenure, very little action was taken.

“It’s time to upgrade the park just like any other park in the city,” he said.

Mayor Henry Guinn acknowledged the community’s concerns and reaffirmed the city’s dedication to resolving the issues raised, He also defended the city’s commitment to evenly distributing funds throughout the city and all parks.

Guinn said the city operates within a financial budget, which constrains how funds are allocated to the parks, and that citizen engagement is critical to all parks throughout the city.

The Jennings Garden Club has taken the initiative to order signs for all the parks, including a new one for Leroy Davis Park.

Guinn said the city is committed to addressing the problems in the most economical and efficient way possible, including saving money through in-house projects. Easily achievable tasks, such as removing park benches, can be addressed quickly, and the budget will be reviewed to determine the funds available for Marcus Cain Park this year, he said.

The city is working to install new benches and an ornamental fence around the playground equipment at Marcus Cain Park, which may involve moving, relocating or removing some playground equipment.

Significant projects like new playground equipment, sidewalks, or a complete ornamental fence around Marcus Cain Park will also be part of upcoming budget discussions, Guinn said.

Lehman questioned whether the budget aligns with the parks’ needs and whether the community should be responsible for park maintenance.

Guinn said the budget is developed independently, and that the current budget includes enough funds for minor improvements at Marcus Cain Park. City leaders will meet over the next 30 to 45 days to discuss the needs of each district to develop the city budget, which will be presented for introduction at the June council meeting.

Guinn urged constituents to contact their council members to express their needs and wants so that the council can address them to the best of its ability. While each district’s needs are important, he stressed that the overall needs of the city may take precedence.

Resident Angela Lehman suggested that increased transparency in the budget process would help the public understand how funds are allocated to each park.