TALLAHASSEE, Fla. — A new pop-up park on the Southside has transformed a desolate street corner, but that same spot is slated to become a city bus station.
We did some digging to find out what will happen to the neighborhood's much needed park.
"Just this improvement here has already changed this corner. People are really excited to see investment on the Southside of Tallahassee and this is just the first phase in many improvements that are going to come along this whole area," said Autumn Calder, Director of Blueprint Intergovernmental Agency.
A wooded lot on an urban corner is now a safe community meeting place.
People who live on the Southside say they were pleasantly surprised when the city put a beautiful park on the corner of Orange Avenue and Meridian Street.
"It's a nice piece of art, they did a good job with it," said Shamira Woodberry, a Southside resident.
The park isn't permanent though. In 2022, this will become the home of the future StarMetro bus Superstop site.
But officials at the the Blueprint Intergovernmental Agency in charge of the project say there's good news for the community.
"We are also going to be building a permanent park across Orange Avenue from this site and that permanent park will be based on some of the things we've learned here," said Calder.
Picnics tables, parking, a performance space, bike racks, a free library, little things that all add up to a sense of pride and cohesion for a grateful community.
"It made me feel wonderful because you know I sell food and stuff and business has picked up and people are coming by saying Wow," said Robert Lee Sherman, a Southside resident.
The park had its grand opening and ribbon cutting Friday. The celebration was open to everyone in the community. There were games, activities and refreshments.
