Crosby Commons increasing in popularity
Published 7:00 am Friday, March 24, 2017
Michelle Hays watches her children's kites fly high at Crosby Commons.
Nearly four years ago, the site of Picayune’s newest park was occupied by the city’s hospital. But after Highland Community Hospital moved to its current location, and the old facility was demolished by the city, Crosby Commons was born. Since then the park has undergone many changes and there are additional plans for the near future.
It once was just an open field with minimal features, but now Crosby Commons has become the host of family fun and community events that can cater to a large number of guests.
“The park is like an extension of your backyard,” Picayune resident Michelle Hays said. “It’s a safe place to take the family and let the kids be kids.”
Hays has lived in Picayune for over 20 years, and said she was waiting for the city to develop a park like Crosby Commons, which now features a walking trail that Hays truly enjoys.
“I used to walk… [Goodyear] Boulevard, but now that I have children, I cringe at the thought of walking right on the street. But when the city decided to make this land a park, I got so excited,” she said.
Crosby Commons offers various avenues of fun, excluding skating and biking on the walking trail. On Thursday afternoon, Hays took her children out to Crosby Commons to teach them how to fly a kite.
“The [Crosby Commons] offers so many benefits to people of all ages. The kids can come here and have fun and the adults can walk the track and mingle while keeping an eye on their children,” Hays said, adding that the park has also proven to be a great venue for community events.
In a couple of weeks, Crosby Commons will be temporarily closed as construction of new amenities begins; one of which will allow the park to cater to nocturnal walkers and runners. Previous Item coverage states that a groundbreaking ceremony will be April 18 at 10 a.m., which will mark the beginning of the construction of lighting along the walking track and an amphitheater for live entertainment. When the work starts, City Manager Jim Luke said it could take up to four months to complete. Luke said that during that time the park will be closed, but will intermittently reopen when the work poses no threat to public safety.
“Having the lights will make this park perfect. My kids take Taekwondo downtown, and while they are there, the adults can safely walk around the track until they are finished,” Hays said.
Throughout the week people can be seen enjoying the park in various ways, including running, workout classes from local gyms and playing sports and other games like tag to name a few.
“Picayune is a very special place and I fall in love with it a little more each day,” Hays said.
