The Town of Good Hope was awarded a grant check from the Alabama Power Foundation to aid in planting trees in the town's new municipal park this week.
    Alabama Foundation President Bill Johnson and Foundation member Liz McGill met with Dunagan at the Good Hope Town Hall on Tuesday, Dec. 9, 2003, to award the $500 grant in person.
    "We're just delighted to receive this," Dunagan said. "This will buy several trees. The Good Hope Fire Department has volunteered to help with setting them up."
    "We're really glad to do it," Johnson said of the grant. "We're looking forward to seeing some trees out there."
    "We're glad to be here and to be able to present Good Hope with this check," added McGill, who heads up the Foundation's tree program.

    The ongoing construction of Good Hope municipal park is expected to be completed in April of 2004, Dunagan said. The mayor added that although the planting of trees and the landscaping of the park will be an ongoing process, he expects that, weather permitting, the town will utilize the grant money to begin purchasing and planting trees as early as next week.
    "We'll add trees and landscaping as we can," Dunagan said. "The main goal is to get it ready for ball."
    The municipal park will feature three lighted baseball/softball fields, a concession stand with bathrooms and a walking trail.
    According to Bill Johnson, the Alabama Power Foundation's tree program has been in operation for five years and has awarded some 250 grants to communities, schools and other organizations. This year's program has awarded 47 grants totaling over $50,000. The grants are administered through a partnership with the Alabama Urban Forestry Association (AUFA).
    "I'd particularly like to thank Sammie Danford of the Cullman County Economic Development Office for her help in seeking this grant," Dunagan said.
    For more information on the Alabama Power Foundation's tree grant program and this year's awards, see this story on the Alabama Power website.

Good Hope's municipal park, now under construction