The Town of Tryon and the Eastside Citizens Advisory Committee were notified recently that the Polk County Community Foundation Unrestricted Fund had awarded a grant for $3,000 for improvements at Bryan Park.&bsp; The foundation designated the grant for the construction of two picnic table shade structures at the park.

Dr. Warren Carson, chairman of the Eastside Citizens Advisory Committee, stated, The Eastside Community Advisory Committee is extremely happy about the grant award. It will help us move forward with the development of this community park. The entire community is grateful for the continued support from the Town of Tryon and the Polk County Community Foundation.

The Eastside Citizens Advisory Committee originally requested development of a neighborhood park in 2006.&bsp; At their December 2006 meeting, the Tryon Board of Commissioners approved the building of the park on a Town-owned parcel at the intersection of West Livingston and Markham Streets.&bsp; The park was built with funding from a 2007 Polk County Community Foundation Unrestricted Fund grant, the Town of Tryon and donations of materials by several local businesses.&bsp; The Eastside Citizens Advisory Committee named the new park Bryan Park at its dedication ceremony on November 30, 2008.&bsp; Bryan Park offers trees and shrubs, picnic tables, park benches and grills and serves families living in the area, the congregations of three churches located nearby and visitors to the Tryon Cemetery.

Recently, the Eastside Citizens Advisory Committee developed a list of improvements needed so that Bryan Park could better serve the community.&bsp; The committee identified a primary need for shade structures until the young trees planted at the park can grow large enough to provide natural shade.&bsp; The 2010 Unrestricted Fund grant will address that need. &bsp;

The Bryan Park improvements will also enhance the Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) Community Revitalization Project that is currently under way on West Livingston Street, adjacent to Bryan Park.