Two new blue light emergency towers are now standing watch in Brunswick, giving residents, visitors and park-goers a direct line to help at Machen Square and Coach Otheler Speakman Park. The City of Brunswick announced the installations in Brunswick, Georgia, framing them as a fresh layer of public safety infrastructure for some of the city's most heavily used public spaces.
According to First Coast News, the first tower was placed at Machen Square, which sits in the center of downtown Brunswick and serves as a gathering place for community events, drawing residents and visitors year-round. The second tower went up at Coach Otheler Speakman Park, also known as Orange Square Park, which the outlet describes as a heavily utilized space for families, children and visitors. Together, the two towers give the public direct access to emergency help in two active public spaces.
How the Towers Are Funded
The first installation was funded through Norfolk Southern's Safety First grant program, which provided $10,000 toward the project, First Coast News reports. GP Cellulose donated $17,000 for the second tower at Speakman Park. The outlet notes that Norfolk Southern and GP Cellulose supported Brunswick's public safety infrastructure through these community partnerships.
The Brunswick News earlier described the Machen Square installation as a solar-powered, 24/7 emergency phone called a K1 Blue Light Tower, according to The Brunswick News. The tower at Speakman Park is intended to add security for the surrounding residential neighborhood and park visitors, according to First Coast News.
City Officials Weigh In on Safety Goals
Brunswick Emergency Management Agency manager Alex Eaton said the towers serve downtown events at Machen Square and families at the Speakman Park splash pad, framing the project as one step toward making Brunswick the safest city in Georgia. North Ward Commissioner Kendra Rolle said the tower at Speakman Park was a priority for her and said she hoped towers could eventually be installed in all of the city's public parks.
A Student Project Behind the Push
The idea for the towers grew out of a partnership between the Downtown Development Authority and a College of Coastal Georgia marketing strategy class, whose students recommended installing blue light emergency towers to improve safety downtown, First Coast News reports. The same collaboration identified strategies to increase community involvement and attract visitors ages 18 to 24, tying the safety push to a broader goal of boosting foot traffic and engagement downtown.
Two towers stand at Machen Square and Speakman Park. Rolle said she hoped towers could eventually be installed in all of the city's public parks.
