PORTERDALE, Ga. - Local kids, with smiling faces, and their parents showed up and waited anxiously to enjoy the new playground at B.C. Crowell Park in Porterdale, Georgia on Friday, June 21. Members of the Porterdale City Council and Newton County Board of Commissioners were also in attendance at the event.

As the ceremony commenced, music began to fill the air and members of Dance for a Purpose, a youth dance camp, took to the basketball court to perform a dance number for the crowd.

The end of the dance number prompted Arline Chapman, mayor of Porterdale, to approach the podium to give a short speech where she showed appreciation for the hard work put into the new playground. The playground, made of sturdy golden brown wood, was made of the best material that could be bought.

“I think we have the best children that we could possibly have right here in Porterdale,” Chapman said, “and we wanted the best for them.”

Chapman’s speech was followed by the ribbon cutting. Members of Dance for a Purpose were given a pair of smaller scissors to help the mayor cut the ribbon, signaling that the park was finally open.

Screaming kids ran to the new playground, unable to wait any longer, and parents stood by to enjoy refreshments: icy lemonade and watermelon. 

The new playground not only provided some Friday fun, but it also provided smiles to everyone in attendance.