Tallassee Times

The Tree Lighting at Veterans Park, a holiday tradition

Tallasseee in Pictures:
City Parks

By Michael Butler

If there is an outdoor event in town, most likely it will take place at a park. Parks range from ballparks to picnic areas.

In Tallassee, there are several green spaces for frolicking or relaxing. The primary public parks in addition to playgrounds are Bell Park, Veterans Park and the recently added (for lack of a better title) Downtown Park.

E.W. Wadsworth wrote about the location in his book, "The History of Tallassee."

"The very front of the block facing Ann Street, was a beautiful park, with all kinds of shrubbery, with large oaks and magnolia tres, and many varieties of flowers. The Micou mansion stood in this beautiful park, but as business increased in Tallassee, it encroached upon the park grounds of the Micou home and finally the house, which was bought from Ben Micou by the Sistrunks, burned in 1909."

Ironically, 100 years later another fire sparked the park's renewal. The downtown fire of 2009 damaged the Hotel Talisi and destroyed the Smarty Pants Consignment Shop where the park now sits.

Former mayor George McCain had the property converted to a green space. Local historian Bill Goss proposed that the park be named, "Micou Park" as it originally was, but as of today it remains the park without a name.

Our parks are the focal points for visitors to Tallassee or those just through it.