In a tersely written resolution, the Eatonton City Council has made it absolutely clear that they do not want Jimmy Davis Park.
The park is located inside the city limits and originally belonged to the city. Putnam County took it over in 2007, but for at least the last year the county has been trying to give it back. I
n recent years, it has fallen into disrepair with overgrown weeds and grass, broken recreation equipment and trash littered throughout the park.
On June 21, the Putnam County Board of Commissioners passed a resolution to sign the deed over to the city. According to the city, on July 1, “a Warranty Deed was recorded in the Deed Book…in an effort to convey said property to the City of Eatonton.”
City Council responded with its own resolution at its July 18 meeting, which was released to the public on Friday, July 22.
It said that the city has never been interested in acquiring the property. Furthermore, the city “disclaim(s) any title as a result of the actions unilaterally taken by the Putnam County Board of Commissioners.”
The city maintains that the county must accept the park and cannot simply transfer it back to them.
The 6.52-acre park is named after former Putnam County Commissioner Jimmy Davis and is located on Hogan Boulevard. A reporter visiting the park last week saw only four relatively new backboards at the basketball court as an indication of recent maintenance.
As recently as last week, the county had been touting the recreation facilities and promoting the main building for rent on the county website. That web page has since been blocked.