HELEN - Discussions are continuing about the future of Helen Riverside Park.
At a called meeting Thursday, Helen City Commissioners heard from citizens and shared their thoughts about recent changes to the park.
The city recently removed 13 picnic tables and seven grills from the park on Edelweiss Strasse, saying they promoted camping and destruction of the facility.
"I just want to go on record as saying yes, I think we do need some picnic tables," said Mayor Dona K. Burke.
While not all commissioners agreed on returning three picnic tables to areas of the park other than the pavilion, they did agree to add more swings and some benches, selecting placement after officials delineate the walking trail with mulch.
One audience member encouraged commissioners to develop activities in the grassy area of the park.
"Why can't we have some corn hole games or some horseshoes or something or another instead of destroying the place?" he asked. "The reason our bathrooms get tore up and things like that is people are pissed off because of the way we're doing it. They go in there and say the heck with it and tear everything up - which hurts everybody else."
Burke said with no one on site to manage use of corn hole, horseshoes or other games, they would disapear the first day.
Commissioner Jeff Ash summarized commission discussion.
"We've got a group of people that's here looking for answers to what we may do with the park," Ash said.
That summary included development of a walking path near the river; use of the pavilion grills only by reservation of the pavilion; and the pavilion may be used individual small families for their brief picnics if not reserved.
"We talked about two additional swings ... and three or four benches," Ash said. "I think if we go through those and get it laid out then we'll be in a better position to talk about the tables later."
Burke said she believes a handful of tables are needed now, especially for older visitors who can't sit on the ground.
"I still want to go on record that I think we need about three tables," Burke said. "They don't have to be on the river."
Commissioner Fred Garmon said he'd like to see a couple of benches added near the sidewalk facing the park, but he remains opposed to any picnic tables other than those in the pavilion.
"We still want input from anybody," Garmon said. "Just put down in writing what you want, and let us all look over it and see what we can and cannot do."
Discussion of city park changes will continue as an agenda item at Tuesday's Helen City Commission meeting at 10 a.m.
