TVA closes playground in Claxton
The Tennessee Valley Authority plans to remove all of the playground equipment, one of the picnic shelters, and a bridge at the Claxton park, but not the second picnic shelter, the Community Center or the baseball fields. (photo:Ben Pounds )
Scott Brooks with TVA media relations said in an email that the utility plans to remove the playground equipment from the park at 1121 Edgemoor Road soon.
A map he shared showed TVA also planned to get rid of a small wooden picnic shelter and a bridge at the site.
The metal pavilion, picnic tables and flagpole, along with a porta-potty and trash barrels, will remain.
Brooks said TVA will not maintain the porta-potty and trash barrels.
The Claxton Community Center, baseball fields and other amenities on the site will stay, and people may continue to use them, he said.
Brooks said the closure and demolition of the playground were in keeping with the Anderson County Commission’s vote last year to end its lease agreement for the site with TVA.
He also noted some county leaders had said the playground was “at the end of its useful life.”
Concerns about the playground included coal ash from the nearby Bull Run Fossil Plant, which is now closed, and the equipment’s safety.
TVA gave Anderson County $250,000 to design and build a new park somewhere else in Claxton.
Despite its earlier decision, however, the commission voted at its Nov. 17 meeting to petition TVA to keep the playground open as long as possible while the county looks for a place for a new park.
Commissioner Tim Isbel made the motion, and Commissioner Ebony Capshaw seconded. It passed unanimously.
County Mayor Terry Frank wrote the letter and sent it on Tuesday, Nov. 25. As Isbel requested, it lobbies TVA to leave the park open without giving the county responsibility or liability for it.
Commissioner Charles McNabb, whose district includes the playground, said keeping the playground open would help the district.
“They’ve done nothing wrong to lose services and access to this park,” he said.
Brooks, however, cited TVA’s assistance to the Claxton community, not only in providing the $250,000 for a new playground but also in giving $50,000 for Lost Bottom Park, a boat launch area.
“This investment ensures that families, residents, and leaders can shape the next chapter of recreation in Claxton while TVA continues to work with the community and county,” he stated, regarding the two donations. He sent his email laying out these points on Nov. 26, the day after Frank sent the petition.
TVA recently closed the adjacent Bull Run Fossil Plant, and is working on building a nuclear fusion power plant in the former coal-fired plant’s building.
Early TVA ideas floated for the rest of the site did include recreational features like trails and boat launches. However, Brooks said that a new playground on the Bull Run grounds wasn’t part of the plan.
“With the retirement of the Bull Run Fossil Plant, TVA is currently exploring opportunities for new energy innovation and development at the site to ensure we can meet future energy needs, maintain system reliability, and support economic growth,” he stated. “TVA is not in a position to commit to leasing federal property to the county for a future playground.”