Rededication of Orr Park
The Toccoa-Stephens County Chamber of Commerce recently held a ribbon tying ceremony and rededication for Orr Park.
Toccoa Improvement Association’s Secretary Susanne Prather says the rededication of the park was started after a family posted on Facebook that the park didn’t feel like a safe place to take their children.
“This was spearheaded from a Facebook post by a Toccoa family who took pictures and videos of the park and they wanted to know why it didn’t feel safe for them to take their children here, and that made me sad. It doesn’t matter where you’re from, what matters is that every adult and every child has a safe place for parents to take them,” she said.
Northeast Georgia Housing Authority Executive Director Angie Cothran says the Housing Authority was able to use a portion of their surplus cash to update the park.
Cothran added that the purpose of Orr Park is to play and have fun.
Emmit Orr III, is the son of Emmit J. Orr Jr. who the park is dedicated to, thanked Prather for spearheading the project and those who helped.
Toccoa Mayor Jeanette Jamieson read the original resolution recognizing Emmit J. Orr Jr.
“In addition to it being so appropriate, at that time, when you’re reopening a park you need to know what the resolution said. This resolution was originally passed in 1988 by the then sitting City Commission. Whereas Emmit James Orr Jr. was a lifelong resident of Stephens County, and whereas, Emmit was an outstanding community leader, voluntarily serving his community in many capacities, and whereas, Emmit served faithfully and with distinction as a member of the Toccoa Housing Authority from 1981 to 1988, and whereas, Emmit honorably served and defended his country in World War II, and whereas, Emmit was a dedicated family man and active member of the Trinity CME Church, and therefore be it resolved that Emmit James Orr Jr. is hereby posthumously commended for his leadership, dedication, and service to the City of Toccoa and Stephens County this 8th day of February 1988,” she said.
Jamieson added that Orr’s service and impact on the community can still be seen today.
“When you read resolutions, and you have the opportunity to attend a ceremony such as this, and whether they passed or not their effect on a community and their dedication to service is still reflected here today, as it should be,” she said.
Following the rededication, the group tied a ribbon to symbolize the community coming around to support the rededication of Orr Park.
Orr Park is located on Diagonal Street across from Broad Street in Toccoa.