News
Gifts to fund splash pad, new library for Russellville
Posted on August 19, 2020
Originally published in the Times Daily.
Gifts from a local family and the county’s largest employer will help the city get its first splash pad and a location for a new media center/library.
Mayor David Grissom made the announcements Monday during a special called council meeting.
Grissom said the Norris family donated about one-half acre behind City Hall that will be used for a new library/media center.
“We’ve been talking to the Norris family for some time,” Grissom said of the project.
Lanny Norris, who ran a State Farm Insurance office in Russellville for 42 years, said he and his siblings agreed to donate the property to the city since each of them had gradually moved out of town.
Gifts from a local family and the county’s largest employer will help the city get its first splash pad and a location for a new media center/library.
Mayor David Grissom made the announcements Monday during a special called council meeting.
Grissom said the Norris family donated about one-half acre behind City Hall that will be used for a new library/media center.
“We’ve been talking to the Norris family for some time,” Grissom said of the project.
Lanny Norris, who ran a State Farm Insurance office in Russellville for 42 years, said he and his siblings agreed to donate the property to the city since each of them had gradually moved out of town.
The company is covering the entire cost of the $309,000 project.
He said the council has discussed adding other features, such as a pool with slides or a lazy river style component. Grissom said the city would pay for any additions to the project.
Grissom said the splash pad may be located by the ball fields at Sloss Lake.
Pilgrim’s Pride is the county’s largest employer.
Nikki Richardson, a spokeswoman for JBS USA & Pilgrim’s, said the splash pad project is part of the Hometown Strong initiative announced in May.
“Nationally, it includes a $20 million investment from Pilgrim’s, which is part of a $50 million nationwide contribution from JBS USA to benefit the areas where our team members live and work,” Richardson said.
The company is investing $1.6 million in Alabama to help local communities respond to the novel coronavirus and invest in the future.
The company partnered with local officials and community leaders in Enterprise, Guntersville and Russellville.