PAYNESVILLE, Montserrado – Paynesville has embarked on a fundraising campaign to renovate its Town Hall Park, located across the street from the administrative offices of the city’s government.

The city closed the playground, one of two major public parks in Paynesville, nearly six months ago because of its current deplorable state. The other park, which is situated in the Liberia Broadcasting System Community, is also not in use due to its dilapidated condition.

Jani Jallah, Paynesville’s Public Relations Director, said the city decided to close the two parks to prevent children from getting hurt by the corroded facilities.

The city expects the renovation to Town Hall Park to cost approximately US$45,000 and because the city’s budget caters only to recurrent expenditures, the mayor has turned to crowdfunding. About a month ago, the city launched a GoFundMe campaign to seek online donations from organizations and individuals.

As of June 20, only US$215 had been pledged by supporters.

Jallah said crowdfunding is not a fundraising technique typically used in Liberia, but she hoped that the project would attract the interest of residents and businesses operating in the city.

“We don’t expect to raise all of the funds through the GoFundMe [campaign],” she said, adding that the city is also “talking to businesses in the city and out of the city, including fuel filling stations and banking institutions, to support this project.”

Renovation of the park is expected to begin once half of the required funds has been secured.

Jani Jallah, Public Relations Director for the Paynesville City Corporation. Photo: Gbatemah Senah

Jallah said the renovations of the two public parks were among projects Mayor Cyvette Gibson considers dear to her heart. When renovated, Town Hall Park would give the city’s children access to a safe and clean environment for play at no cost, unlike the Chevron Monrovia Central Park, which charges a US$ 1.00 entry fee for children.

“However, event hosting will cost a little fee to maintain the park,” Jallah added. She said the new park would “have a play area for life-size Ludo board games, picnic area, slides, swings, gazebos and a garden.”

As for the renovation of the LBS Community Park, the city has no set timeline because the project is expected to be much more expensive. She said according to the plan, the park would be transformed into a splash park and would cost at least US$100,000.

Featured photo by Gbatemah Senah