In its ongoing effort to improve parks and greenspace throughout the community, Macon-Bibb County recently completed a major improvement project at Henry Burns Park at the corner of Ingleside and Ridge Avenues. A ceremonial ribbon cutting ceremony was held on Monday, May 7 at 12:00 p.m. to officially mark the completion of the project.

The neighborhood and entire county now have two new ADA accessible, inclusive playgrounds; new erosion walls that also serve as places for people to sit and relax; new benches; more parking and a wider driveway; and new lighting. The tennis courts were also resealed and restriped, including adding striping for pickleball. Drainage and erosion issues have also been addressed during this project. The Boy Scout hut located on the property is also slated to remain, and it is being leased to the Citizens of Ingleside, Inc. to be used as a multi-purpose community meeting center.

This project was paid for with Blight Remediation Program funds from District 9 ($100,000), District 1 ($175,000), District 4 ($300,000), and from the proceeds from the sale of the Alexander IV School facility, which was purchased with District 4  & 7 ($85,000) funds. There was also $43,000 from the Special Purpose Local Option Sales Tax (SPLOST) allocated to this project. The firm that designed this project was WM2A, and the contractor doing the work is Ogles Construction.

Featured speakers at the groundbreaking ceremony included: Derry Burns, Jr., Mayor Pro Tem Al Tillman, District 4 Commissioner Mallory Jones, neighborhood resident Steve Wilson, Historic Macon Executive Director Ethiel Garlington, and Recreation Department Executive Director Robert Walker.

Previously, about $95,000 in SPLOST funds were used to repair stormwater through the center of the Park, and to deal with some of the erosion and drainage issues.