Southern Pines officials are considering upgrades to the Downtown Park

By Steve DeVane Staff writer

SOUTHERN PINES - Southern Pines town leaders are considering upgrades to the Downtown Park.

The park is bordered by East Pennsylvania and New York avenues and Ashe and Southeast Broad streets. Bob Koontz, a land planner with Hobbs, Upchurch & Associates; Lynn Anderson, an architect with Anderson Architecture; and Vince Zucchino, a landscape architect with Vince Zucchino Associates, worked on the proposed renovations.

Members of the Town Council discussed the plan at three meetings in October and November, and heard comments from the public at their Nov. 13 meeting.

Several residents questioned spending money on the park, with much of the focus on a 7,500-square-foot meeting house expected to cost about $5.5 million. The total cost of the project is about $7.5 million.

Greg Zywocinski, who said he is past president of the Southern Pines Business Association and past chairman of the Southern Pines Appearance Commission, said he strongly opposes the plan.

"This is, in my opinion, a colossal waste of taxpayer money," he said. "This is government run amuck."

Town Manager Reagan Parsons told council members at their Nov. 7 agenda meeting that a "concerted campaign" appeared to be aimed at opposing the building.

Koontz said the proposal allows town leaders to decide when they want to do various upgrades.

"This is a 30-year plan," he said. "We don't envision that meeting house being built any time in the near future."

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Southern Pines officials are considering upgrades to the Downtown Park