Survey for Kinney Park
Community
We Need Your Help

February 10, 2021

Dear neighbor and Dothan resident:

The City of Dothan Leisure Services,  Hawk-Houston Youth Enrichment Center and others have been meeting since last fall to discuss the planned re-dedication of Kinney Park located next to Hawk-Houston at 329 Chickasaw Street. We were asked to help locate relatives of PFC Randle Kinney. We were happy to assist especially after learning the history of  its namesake—PFC Randle Kinney.  We inquired about the planned activities for the re-dedication ceremony and  what the upgrades and changes would entail.  There were none–just a re-dedication ceremony.

However, in a 2019 conversation with commissioner Janasky Fleming, I inquired about the possibility of the city building a neighborhood indoor swimming pool in the park and the benefits and the impact it would have on the children and families in this neighborhood that do not have access to a swimming pool. Commissioner Fleming agreed that a swimming pool would be an asset, but said he believed the now-popular splash pad would probably be the best and fastest option at this time. I agreed.

The city’s “Love your neighborhood” campaign  began in Baptist Bottom last summer with promises to improve the neighborhood to include its park facilities. We have been meeting with Mayor Mark Saliba, Alison Hall, Leisure Services, and others in the community to discuss the needs of children and families. We strongly support upgrading existing facilities, and the addition of recreational and restroom facilities. It is a win-win for the City and the Baptist bottom neighborhood.

As we move forward, we would like to get input from residents, particularly those in the Baptist Bottom neighborhood, to see what improvements and/or upgrades they would like to see at Kinney Park. Please complete the short survey. Thank you in advance for participating.

In service to youth,

Altha R. Newman, Executive Director