Oak Haven Park

2360 English Avenue

Oak Haven Park is a cherished landmark to the Vineville Neighborhood and we promote its care and advancement of being a premier gathering and play space for our community. The HVNA holds many activities at the park that have included the Annual Blue and White party, Chili cookoff, outdoor movie nights, spring and fall festivals, Easter egg hunt and the park’s Christmas tree lighting.  Recent upgrades to the park include the playground, climbing gym, play field, lighting and parking.

The Historic Vineville Neighborhood Association gives many thanks and gratitude to the endless work of Lars Anderson for the continuing support and advancement of Oak Haven Park.

The park is managed by the Macon-Bibb County Parks and Beautification Department.  www.maconbibb.us/parks-and-beautification/

CLICK HERE TO SUPPORT THE PARK

History of the park

On the idea of establishing a park in our community, the Historic Vineville Neighborhood Association  consults with the Bibb County leaders and promotes the creation of a park on the vacant land of English Avenue. The photo is from Google Maps Nov 2007.

Oak Haven Park was established on Feb 25, 2014 by the Macon-Bibb County Commission, Economic and Community Development Committee thru the purchase of 10 contiguous vacant lots (1.87 Acres).  These lots were once tenement houses for Atlantic Mills whose structures have long been missing from our history.  The property sat adjacent to the 121 year old Atlantic Mills (PKA Manchester Mills) that burnt down in 2011.  The park is managed by the Macon-Bibb County Parks and Beautification Department.

 

In November of 2016, The Community Foundation of Central Georgia awarded a grant to Macon-Bibb County for renovations of the park that included ongoing care and maintenance, grading, concrete walking paths, landscaping and infrastructure improvements.

 

 

 

As an Eagle Scout project, a climbing gym was constructed on March 3, 2018 by Chandler Pipkins. From the WMAZ news article in Dec 2017: Pipkins says he is hoping the new feature will give kids in the Vineville neighborhood something fun to do. “It’s mostly just for climbing, but it also fits in with the neighborhood. We’re making it out of timber, so it’s not going to be a big eyesore, so it’s not a big piece of plastic out here. It’s really going to help beautify the area,” says Pipkins.

 

 

 

The HVNA installs portable soccer goals.  Additionally on donations, tries to maintain a supply of park soccer balls.

The Vineville Garden Club, the oldest Macon Garden Club, planted two Gem Magnolias honoring the park renovation to flank the new park entrance sign on March 22, 2018.

 

 

 

 

The HVNA installs drape light poles around the congregation area to provide lighting during events.

 

In August 2021, The Macon Water Authority in need of additional water capacity, purchased the fallowed Atlantic Mills property adjacent to the park to construct a water tower.  The MWA and the HVNA have worked closely to make the tower and surrounding area acceptable for all while extending the greenspace and parking of Oak Haven park.  The water tower and its property will be a visual landmark anchoring our proud area of Macon and enhance the amenities of Oak Haven Park to include playground equipment, graded open field space for use of soccer goals or disk golf, parking area and improved driveway ingress-egress.   The tower is 200 feet tall and will carry 3 million gallons of water.  The photo is May 2022 nearing the end of construction.

 

As a joint project, the HVNA and the MWA construct the playground area and equipment April 2022. “The overall intent was to not have a rainbow plastic world, but to have a landscape acceptable and highly invitable play area.”
The obstacle course, balance beam, seesaw and carousel were selected as an intriguing playscape with the variation in climbing, crawling and balancing activities. The natural construction is pleasing to the eye, low maintenance, withstands the elements, and does not get hot with the suns rays.

 

 

 

References

 

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