Reece fights to help the handicapped

By AMY SATTERWHITE / Staff Reporter for the Southern Standard

Jimmy Reece, right, and wife Carlene, discuss the potential for more extensive handicapped use of Pepper Branch Park. (Amy Satterwhite photo)

Jimmy Reece loves to fish, but in many places, he’s not able to.

Suffering from 18 ruptured discs in his back, the 57-year-old has been confined to a wheelchair for the past two years. He is just starting to notice some feeling in one of his arms and considers it a sign of hope because one day, he wants to be up and working again.

He is also hoping to make some changes that will affect the physically challenged who would like to visit the park.

He looks out at the rocks that curb the Barren Fork River at the developing Pepper Branch Park and thinks about how he would love to fish there, as many people do on a hot summer’s day. His disability forced him to finally sell his boat after years of fishing before he became handicapped.

Hoping for the same type of community spirit that helped build the Jungle Jym some years ago, he thinks perhaps a volunteer effort is in order.

“Nobody thinks about the handicapped,” he said during a discussion with Parks and Recreation Director Carlene Brown. the potential to have a simple handicapped ramp installed on the fishing side of the river.

Brown said an extensive walkway that would have also provided for handicapped people was in development plans for Pepper Branch at one time, but was scrapped due to high costs. The Barren Fork Greenway trail itself, which extends into the park, is handicapped accessible.

Reece, who has a background in construction equipment – part of what he said led to his disability – said he wants to generate some community support to make the area even better suited for those who can’t get around like everyone else.

“You don’t know what you would do to the handicapped people,” he tells Brown if a ramp ever became reality. “They would hug on you for years.”

Brown said that if a concrete company would be willing to donate the concrete, a potential exists for the city to do the work, although a final decision would also rest with other city officials.

“Let’s pique some interest. Somebody’s got to help and I believe if we get it started, you’re going to be surprised,” Reece said, willing to spearhead the effort. Although discouraged at times by his physical limitations, he hopes for the best.

“If they see the good that it will bring, it will happen,” he added.

Anyone wishing to help with the effort may contact Brown at McMinnville Civic Center at 473-1212.