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The healing has begun in the county seat. The city of LaFayette’s new healing zone, sponsored by a $60,000 grant, had its first installation of specially crafted exercise equipment on Tuesday.

The equipment was built by Professor Craig Wedderspoon and his Sculpture students at the University of Alabama’s Department of Art and Art History, as a part of the university’s ongoing Equitable Neighborhoods Initiative (ENI).

ENI is a program started by the University of Alabama, the CDC and the Alabama Department of Public Health. During the Covid-19 pandemic, the project began as a way of identifying underserved communities and addressing resource gaps. 

The key element of the ENI project is working with community liaisons, like Adrian Holloway of LaFayette, who can identify specific challenges and needs in the community. Over 20 communities across the state are receiving a healing zone, an outdoor space dedicated to exercise, meditation and health.

“We wanted to put something in the community that would stay for years to come,” Holloway said.

The city of LaFayette’s street and sanitation department, headed by Superintendent George Green, has worked with the ENI committee for a year now to get the old city park prepped for the installation. 

In addition to the exercise equipment, stainless steel bike rack and benches installed, the park will be getting new playground equipment and a “sensory station” dedicated to people living with autism. The goal, Holloway said, is to create an inclusive space for all.

The equipment made by Wedderspoon and his crew is made of sustainable, hardy materials including stainless steel, black locust wood and aluminum. All the exercise equipment was designed with ADA compliance in mind and with input from UA’s athletes who use wheelchairs. 

LaFayette’s ENI committee has worked on several projects including a resource manual with everything from local dental providers to healthcare resources. 

“Oftentimes, there are resources available, we just don’t know where they are or how to access them,” Holloway said. 

Holloway said a survey revealed that hypertension and diabetes were major concerns impacting LaFayette.

Another project that ENI hopes to work on is turning the old John P. Powell Middle School building into a community center. The building used to serve as the Chambers County Training School, which was one of the first high schools for black students in the county, and in Aug. 2022, was designated a historical landmark.