Simply Put - "Citizen’s Lodge Park"

This past weekend the Marianna Arts Festival, dubbed the Pork N’ Paint Festival, took place at Citzen’s Lodge Park in Marianna. The event was another huge success and fine example of volunteers coming together for the good of the community. There was plenty of art, good eats, activities and music that filled the air.
For all the hard work of the volunteers for the event, behind the scene was another star performer. That star performer was Citizen’s Lodge Park. This park has come together over the last few years to be a "jewel" for our community. The folks at the county’s parks department, Chuck Hatcher and the gang, deserve a pat on the back for a job well done. If you haven’t taken in the park recently I strongly suggest you give it a try. I think you’ll be pleasantly surprised at how this park has evolved.
The area has been several things over the years. Mother Nature has used and continues to use the area as a flood plain for the Chipola River. For many years it was a pony farm known as Beall’s Pony Farm. For a while the main building or lodge was used by Citzen’s State Bank, now known as Suntrust, for meetings or events.
About 8 years ago the area was purchased by the state and leased to the county. It was then announced that it would be developed as a community park. I began to visit the park as walking or running trails were first established. During those 8 years I have watched as they added pavilions, paved walking trails, exercise stations, bathrooms, picnic tables, playground equipment and a gazebo by the pond. The latest edition is a top of the line performing arts stage that was put to good use this past weekend by the many bands that entertained the crowds. All these improvements and the natural beauty of the landscape make it a perfect location for events like this past weekend’s festival. But even more importantly, it has become a location where folks can escape the hustle and bustle of the world and get a little down time to relax. They can do all that, and even get a little exercise, in the serene surroundings of a majestic meadow along the Chipola River.
The only drawback to the park these days is that it is almost too popular. I remember the days when no one would be at the park but me, my boys and our dog. But I can’t blame folks, there are just enjoying the same things we enjoy. So, Simply Put, thanks to all the folks that have made Citizen’s Lodge Park into an outstanding place to unwind. Keep up the great work. From the front porch: It’s true that you can lead a horse to water but you can’t make him drink. But Uncle Bob said you sure can make that horse awful thirsty.