Oglesby Questions City’s Vision for Youth

One of the individuals wanting use of a currently unused field at Alewine Park in Toccoa is questioning the city’s decision to use the land for a burn building for the fire department to train on.

Evan Oglesby spoke to Toccoa City Commissioners on Monday.

Oglesby wanted to fix up and use a currently unused third field at Alewine Park for his E.O. Foundation’s baseball program, while the Toccoa Little League wanted to do the same and use it for its activities.

The other two fields are currently used by a soccer association.

Earlier this month, the city commission voted to put the burn building on that third field.

Oglesby said that he does not know what Toccoa’s vision is for its youth.

“I had someone that was going to help revitalize that whole park, so we missed out on an opportunity to have a facility in Toccoa that can bring outside communities here,” said Oglesby. “Is there a vision we have for Toccoa because it seems like it is very, very difficult for my organization to grow here with leadership not seeing our vision and kind of not supporting our cause.”

Toccoa City Commissioner Terry Carter noted that the city commission has supported Oglesby’s foundation with money from the city’s budget to the tune of $2,500 this year.

Carter went on to say that he feels the city has done a lot recently to try to provide opportunities for youth.

“First of all, there would be the parks, Henderson Falls Park and Emory Johnson Park,” said Carter. “Also, what we are doing at the Links with golf opportunities for our youth and then the big one is the Little League, they have that entire facility on Doyle Street for them to use.”

Carter also pointed to the pool that was rebuilt on Doyle Street.

As for the unused field that Oglesby wanted, Carter said that the fire department had expressed interest in it earlier this year, long before any other organizations.

“The fire department had asked for that field in our planning session to be able to put a facility there,” said Carter. “We had approved that and talked that we wanted to put that in our upcoming budget. There is such synergy between the two with the police training facility, they would be able to share the restrooms and the classroom. It would just make sense to be there.”

In addition, City Commissioner Jeanette Jamieson said that the fire department has done a lot for the city to lower ISO ratings, lowering insurance costs.

In return, she said the city needs to prioritize the fire department in this case.

Oglesby said he is not against the fire department’s need, he just wishes it were not at Alewine Park.

“I agree to that, but I just feel like you could find another place to put that,” said Oglesby.

Oglesby did say that his baseball program has been using Emory Johnson Park for practice, but wants a field that he can use in order to grow the program.