Parks and Rec reports strong holiday season in Valley
BY JOHN BRICE
THE LAFAYETTE SUN
VALLEY — Valley Parks and Recreation Director Jon Neal reported strong participation in holiday events during the Monday, Jan. 12, Valley City Council meeting.
After being recognized by Mayor Leonard Riley, Neal shared details from the city’s Merry-Go- Round attraction, noting how community support led to another successful season.
“I would like to report back on the merry-go-round for the season,” Neal said. “[We] didn’t have any closures this year — [we had] 66,584 total riders.”
Neal said plans are already being considered to mark the attraction’s upcoming 70th anniversary.
“We are going to bring some things back for the anniversary,” he said.
Neal also discussed the success of the senior prom held at the Valley Senior Center on New Year’s Eve.
“Over the Christmas holidays we had our first ever Senior Prom,” Neal said. “[It was] a big success on New Year’s Eve [with] over 30 people [attending]. We hope to boost that next year.”
He also announced plans for a Daddy Daughter Dance.
“Coming up in February we are having our [inaugural] Light Up the Night Daddy Daughter Dance,” Neal said. “So if you know anybody from the community who wants to bring their daughter to dance for a couple of hours and have a unique experience — that would be great.”
The dance will be held on Feb. 7.
Neal also addressed upcoming reductions to senior meal services following notification from the East Alabama Planning Commission.
“Last week we were notified by the East Alabama Planning Commission that they were rolling back some of the benefits that they have given our area,” Neal said. “[It] is not just the Valley area, it is over the whole state.”
He said the changes will result in reductions to local meal services.
“We are actually making three cuts to our homebound meals and one to our congregant meal,” Neal said. “We have asked the state if we could pay for the meals that we are losing, [and were told] not right now,” he said. “Unfortunately … we cannot continue those four meals.”
Later in the meeting, Greater Valley Area Chamber of Commerce Executive Director Carrie Wood announced an upcoming community event supporting first responders.
“On March 14 we are planning the inaugural Clover and Coals Battle of the Badges Barbecue Cookoff at Shawmut Airport,” Wood said. “This is where our local police and fire departments will compete for the gold.”
She said mayors from four cities will serve as judges.
In other business:
• The council approved a bid from Matthew and Jody Tree Service to provide landscaping maintenance for the city.
• The council approved the sale of city property to Lonne Joe Granger.
• The council approved the sale of city property to Kobeck Properties Phase 3.
• January 2026 was proclaimed Human Trafficking Awareness Month in the city of Valley.
