Toni (Mrs. Vincent Faison, Sr.) with her grandson, Toombs County Commissioner Alfred Cason and Lyons Mayor Willis Nesmith
The park in Lyons named in honor of a man who volunteered countless hours as a coach at the city’s recreation department is about to get a major renovation thanks to $2.2 million grant. A special gathering was held Tuesday afternoon at the Vincent Faison, Sr., Park to accept the ceremonial check and Mayor Willis Nesmith says the money will be used for constructing at least one more basketball court, a pickleball court, a community center, provide public restrooms and more upgrades and additions.
Toni Faison is the widow of the park’s namesake and says her late husband would be very pleased about the soon-to-be upgrades.
“We are excited,” Mrs. Faison said, “and Vincent would be thrilled to see this. He grew up playing ball in this park and Vincent, Jr., did, too. I’m happy to see these improvements and I know Vincent’s mother would be as well.”
She continues, “On behalf of the family, we hope this park will become a place for the community to come together and be a safe place for children to come and play.”
Mayor Nesmith said there was no definite timeline as to when the work will begin or when the project will be completed.
The land that encompasses Vincent Faison Sr., Park was given to the city in 1972, and a portion of it was once part of the old Lyons Industrial High School. Originally it was named Hallmark Park, but the name changed to honor the late Vincent Faison Sr., some 15 years ago and in the same year in which Faison passed away. Since its formation, the park has served as a city park as well as providing an overflow site for a baseball field for the Lyons Recreation Department.
In 2017, the late Ben Mitchell, a Lyons City Councilman, suggested applying for a Land Water Conservation Grant for improvements to the facility and the road leading into the park was renamed Ben Mitchell Ave. Tuesday afternoon, Mitchell’s son Quincy was in attendance and expressed his approval and appreciation to the city for apply for and receiving the grant for the park.