The much-discussed city park plan moved another step forward as Gaffney City Council members spent Friday morning prioritizing the park plan.

Council members agreed to put a city park between the new city hall and the fire department at the top of its to-do list.

Gaffney Mayor Henry Jolly said work on the park will begin when the landscape architectural firm of Seamon Whiteside and Associates finalizes the design.

The park is estimated to cost $175,000, but Jolly said that figure seems high since no grading will be required on the site.

Upgrades to Thomson Park are next on council's park agenda. Jolly said new restrooms will be built and new playground equipment will be installed.

Two of the park's four tennis courts will be refurbished. The remaining two will be removed, he said.

The cost of the Thomson Park project is $92,500.

Jolly said council also wants to fund improvements to Park Place this year. Plans call for on-site parking and new restrooms, he said.

Jolly said the city will work jointly with the Cherokee County Recreation District to upgrade Park Place and Thomson Park.

Council also hopes to transform Irene Park into a skate park, according to Jolly. Irene Park is now a youth baseball field. It will cost the city about $142,000 to build the skate park.

The city plans to fund its park plan with the hospitality tax, which is generating about $700,000 a year. The H-tax is a surcharge on prepared food.