State Sen. Arthur Orr, R-Decatur, presents a $2,715 community development grant to Hartselle Mayor Don Hall on Monday. The money will be used to provide landscaping at the Special Needs Accessible Playground (SNAP). Looking on are members of the SNAP Committee.

The City of Hartselle has received a $7,215 Community Development Grant to provide landscaping for the John Mark Stallings Special Needs Accessible Playground of Morgan County.

The grant was presented by State Sen. Arthur Orr, R-Decatur, to Hartselle Mayor Don Hall at a ceremony in front of the SNAP entrance on Monday morning.

Orr said the money was awarded to provide the landscaping needed to establish a natural border separating the playground from the Parks & Recreation Department workshop and equipment storage building.

“Thank you Senator Orr for your help in making a difference in the lives of 1,700 special needs children and their families in Morgan County,” said Mayor Hall. “Supporters like you have made it possible for us to see the finish line in a much-needed project that has been in development for seven years.”

“The credit belongs to Bob Francis and those of you who have worked faithfully and tirelessly to keep a difficult but worthwhile undertaking moving forward,” Orr said. “ I appreciate the opportunity to represent you and I applaud you for your work.”

Francis said $200,000 is needed to meet the financial goal for the funding of the third and final construction phase.

“We’re committed to having the funding in hand by the end of 2014 and complete the project in 2015,” he said.