Improvements are in Rollingwood Park’s future, due to the approval of the new Master Plan. Rollingwood City Council approved the $23,000 plan at its May 16 meeting. The next step for the Parks Commission is to begin seeking funding sources for the projects identified in the plan. The top recommended projects include:

• • Extend and improve the walking trail and make an accessible connection between the lower and upper portions of the park
  • Create multipurpose fields that allow for additional sports programming and unstructured play
  • Access and use on-street parking on all streets adjacent to the park
  • Provide a separate off-leash dog area that is its own space
  • Expand programming opportunities for teenagers, adults and seniors
  • Create an overall brand and identity for the park that reflects the history of the park and community
  • Focus on planting shade trees and maintaining existing canopy
  • Expand native gardens on-site

One of the main reasons for creating a formal master plan was to go after grant funding, City Administrator Amber Lewis said. She added there will probably be some sort of match from the city, but its budget for parks is not large. A process for citizen input will also be created soon, Lewis said. “There will be lots of opportunities for the community to comment on what projects they want to see the most,” she said. Lewis said it is difficult to predict when residents can expect to see projects begin, since funding will determine which are selected and when. In other Rollingwood Park news, a new swing set with turf underneath was installed at the lower park in mid-May. Alderman Dillard steps down Alderman Bobby Dillard announced his resignation at the May City Council meeting. Amy Patillo was appointed to fill his seat until the November election. Patillo is currently serving on the Parks Commission and has served on the council in the past. Residents can expect better cell service The city is working on an agreement with AT&T to install “network nodes” or “small cell nodes” to improve cell phone service in Rollingwood. The small electronic boxes, or nodes, are about 3 or 4 feet in length and cylindrical. Trader Joe’s was identified as a high-use spot, so a node will most likely be placed there, Lewis said. Another node will probably be placed on a pole with a tornado and fire siren that is near City Hall. “The nodes will eventually give us 5G,” Lewis said. “The city doesn’t have to pay anything, and we’re trying to get this in place as soon as possible.”