Years of work lead to a place for play

A new playground at the Terrell County Recreation Department near Dawson, Georgia, demonstrates the power of resident-driven community development. The project grew from the Terrell County Community Heart & Soul initiative, launched in 2022 to engage residents in identifying what they love about their community and what they want for its future. Through that process, residents identified a safe, fun place for children to play as an important community priority. With support from Terrell County Community Heart & Soul, Sumter Electric Membership Corp. (EMC), and Georgia EMC, that vision became a reality. The project illustrates how community engagement, local partnerships, and resident-led planning can turn shared priorities into lasting improvements that help families live, work, and play in their communities.