AYDEN  - Ernie Lubiani came to Ayden from Memphis, TN with the hopes of living in a small town full of beauty. And, like some tourism changes he was a part of in the town famous for Elvis, Lubiani wants to help make some changes to Ayden as well.  

Lubiani, having grown up in a small town, says Greenville was too big for him, so he chose Ayden as his new home. He saw potential in Ayden.  

"Ayden had potential to be a great, small town," Lubiani said. "I still think that."  

Lubiani wants to turn 7.6 acres of land across from Leo Venters Ford into a handicapped-accessible park. It was a piece of land bought for a new fire department, but rejected, according to Recreation Director Andy McLawhorn. The trees were later harvested on the property. It is now mostly grown up in weeds and grass.  

Lubiani, who is big history buff, says there are no great parks in Pitt County. His park plan includes building a mile long walking area and having different sections in the park dedicated to different flowers for citizens to plant and take care of. Lubiani's 'vision' is that this park will be a thing of beauty and that is what he wants to make Ayden: a small beautiful town that attracts people from miles around.  

Lubiani says that the present town board has done a good job beautifying Ayden and removing junk cars and trash.  

"I think Mrs. Davenport has a great idea of taking old, abandoned cars out," Lubiani said. 

Old, abandoned trailers will also have to go if Lubiani's park plan is a go. According to Lubiani, the town has dumped mounds of dirt, concrete slabs, and other things at the back of this land, which would have to be removed. Also on the land is a mobile home park with limited living space remaining. Funds would have to come forth to purchase that property for Lubiani's plan to come to fruition.  

Lubiani's plan isn't just for a park though. His plan consists of future ideas for the Collard Festival.  

He said there is another 20-30 acres of land that could be used for the Collard Festival, which would provide for more entertainment and fun. "I think the Collard Festival has outgrown downtown," Lubiani said. 

Andy McLawhorn, Recreation Director, agrees that Ayden needs a new park. McLawhorn also agrees that with the park, the Collard Festival could expand. 

According to Mclawhorn, the Recreation Commission has been trying to get a new park built for four years. He says discussion of a park has been around for over 10 years. McLawhorn says the current parks are full and in tough neighborhoods and with the town's expected growth, there will be a need for another park in Ayden.

"All the growth coming towards us is an indication of what's coming," McLawhorn said.  

According to McLawhorn, the town has this land with nothing else to do with it.  He pointed out that for seven years, there was talk about building a park or a building for the Boys and Girls Club. Currently, the Boys and Girls Club operate out of the Recreation Center. McLawhorn says the center is a nice facility and has a lot of room, but there needs to be more room for activities.   

Although Lubiani's park plan does not include many, if any, athletic fields, McLawhorn suggests more ball fields being included in his park plan. He says although everyone has their own ideas and interests, the focus for everyone is to have a new park. 

"Recreation is very important," McLawhorn said. "Everybody has their own interest. Parks are very important to the life of the town."

McLawhorn says that they would get a PARTF grant for the park and also a federal grant. He says he is trying to make it so the town will not have to pay anything.

Now, according to McLawhorn, all they need is to make the town realize the importance of a new park and the state to give the money.  

If the town's do decide to give the land over for the park, there will be a few problems, McLawhorn said. Aside from the mounds of dirt and other debris, there are tree stumps on the land that would have to be removed. Other than that, McLawhorn does not see any negatives to a new park being built there. 

McLawhorn not only wants a new park, he also wants to give the citizens assurance the park will still be standing in years to come.  

McLawhorn says there are a lot of parents with kids con tributing to the park idea. Their kids play ball and want new fields for them so they volunteer to help in any way they can. The parents, McLawhorn said, would have a personal stake in the new park.  

Although the park idea has been in the works for years now, McLawhorn is hopeful that one day, Ayden will see a new park. And maybe, just maybe, Mr. Lubiani is the man to help get that done. 

"I would like another park and maybe Ernie's the man," McLawhorn said.

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