The Clinton County Recreation Park Board held its regular meeting last Thursday, August 28 with 10 members on hand.

After voting to approve the treasurer’s report, board members reviewed the most recent 127 Yard Sale, first thanking the City of Albany for donating signs put along the bypass directing yard sale travelers to the park. Park Director Bobby Reneau also said that next year, he would make an early request to the state highway department to possibly put up a flashing billboard type sign on the bypass advertising the sale at the park.

Overall, the sale proceeds were down somewhat from past years, as was the overall 127 Sale in general in 2014, but the board did make a few thousand dollars in its annual fundraiser to help with park operations and expenses it incurs throughout the year.

Reneau said there were a total of 36 regular booth spaces rented, about half of what could be available. However, six spaces in the Farmer’s Market building was rented this year, two more than a year ago and there were also four food vendors at the park during this year’s sale compared to only one last year.

Booth space rental at the park is only $60 for a regular outdoor spot and $100 for the Farmer’s Market, with food vendors paying $200 per space. However, the board is considering reducing the booth space fees next year in hopes of enticing more vendors.

Even though the number of vendors were down, Reneau said the number of visitors and buyers who came by throughout the yard sale was about normal and noted that the vendors that did set up were for the most part satisfied with the business that was done this year.

With most of the summer season now over, more attention is turning to other activities, especially softball and the board agreed to let a group host a memorial scholarship co-ed softball tournament at the park the week of September 19. That tournament is expected to bring in close to 20 teams.

Board member John Mason, who is also Little League President, said the Little League was looking at holding a softball tournament later in the fall, possibly early October, as a fundraiser for the league and the park board itself is also considering hosting a tournament, also for a fundraiser.

The board also discussed recent fundraising for playground equipment and the awarding of a matching grant through the Healthy Hometown Coalition program that will be put to use for not only playground equipment but other park improvements. The deadline for matching funds within that grant program is October 1 and Reneau said more money needed to be raised prior to that time to enhance the grant amount.

He further noted that he felt there were enough funds in place to take care of purchasing some long-awaited new playground equipment, but other improvements in the works is repaving the walking track, among others.

The next regular meeting of the park board is scheduled for September 15 and is open to the public.