Simeon said there are still finishing touches to put on the park before it opens, including calking, painting and a list of rules and regulations.

On opening day, he said, the department will go over the rules and give riders stickers showing they have been over the regulations.

Traffic code amendments

In another matter tonight, Roanoke Rapids police Chief Chuck Hasty went over several amendments to the city's traffic code, which city council approved.

The first amendment he discussed was putting a four-way stop sign at Second and Franklin streets since at Franklin between Third and First streets there is a quarter-mile straight and level roadway with no stops between the two points in a primarily residential area.

The four-way stop, he said, will slow vehicle speeds and make the area safer for motorists and residents.

The second matter the police chief discussed was parking at Signature Healthcare on Jefferson Street.

The proposal, he said, is to prohibit roadside parking to ensure safe movement of vehicles to the facility. It will also allow, he said, delivery trucks for Signature and trucks to enter the old Pine State Property without hitting vehicles parked on Jefferson Street.

He said it will allow emergency vehicles better access to the rear of the building in case of an emergency situation.

Hasty noted in his presentation Signature has installed a new paved parking area which will help reduce the need for vehicles to park on the street.

The third amendment addressed prohibiting parking on the roadway due to safety concerns for pedestrians and motorists along Gregory Drive.

Business owners the police department spoke with are onboard with prohibiting parking on the roadway. The department also recommended a crosswalk on Gregory Drive at the Old Farm Road intersection going from New Day Fitness to its studio across the street.

The area, he said, is unique “due to a wide variety of roadway variables,” which includes in the .65-mile-long stretch five curves, hills and high traffic volume from being used a shortcut and used by business traffic.

The signs will most likely go up next month and the police department will continue to study the logistics of the crosswalk, Hasty said this evening.

Hasty, left, and Martin.

Martin recognized

In another matter related to the police department, Hasty recognized Captain Bobby Martin for completion of his criminal investigation specialist training at the Coastal Plain Law Enforcement Training Center at Wilson Community College.