Brookhaven Recreation Department Director Terry Reid told theBoard of Aldermen Tuesday night that efforts to raise volunteers towork on the proposed Bethel Park had been a great success.

Reid told the board that between the efforts of the recreationdepartment, Ward Three Alderwoman Mary Wilson, the members ofBethel Church and others in the community, over 100 applicationsfor volunteer work had been submitted for the project.

In addition, Reid said, companies such as Entergy and Home Depothave volunteered labor and expertise for the project.

As a result of the volunteer interest, Reid said a meeting willbe held and the government will consider a grant that would provide70 percent of park development costs. The remaining 30 percentwould need to be covered through local in-kind and other volunteerlabor efforts.

In addition, the board discussed the fact that Reid said he hasheard funding will not be made available for grants for spray parksin the coming year. The city has been discussing installing threespray parks in different areas of the city since last year, andwere hoping to receive funding through grants.

Mayor Bob Massengill asked Reid if he would try to determine arealistic cost on constructing a spray park. The mayor said it’s apossibility the city could find funds elsewhere since the projectis one city officials have deemed important.

“I’d like to see if we can find a way to build one of thoseparks this year and apply for grants for other ones in futureyears,” Massengill said. “We’ll look at our finances and see if wecan come up with a way.”

Reid said Dungan Engineering had constructed one on the coast,and that he would contact engineers from Dungan to find out howmuch it would cost to fund it through other means.

Aldermen also discussed their recent trip to Washington D.C.,during which they met with some members of Mississippi’scongressional delegation and requested help and funding for theupcoming year. City officials make the trip once a year to be surea presence is made known in Washington and to ensure Brookhaven ison the minds of lawmakers.

“I believe we should go once a year if not twice,” said Ward TwoAlderman Terry Bates. “Just to see our faces meant a lot tothem.”