MOULTRIE, Ga. — David Herndon compared downtown improvements to a war.

“Right now, one battle at a time,” Herndon told dignitaries assembled Thursday to celebrate the first success in a strategy of revitalization of Moultrie’s downtown region.

Herndon is chairman of the Enhancement Committee of Downtown Moultrie Tomorrow, a non-profit group that has spearheaded the plan to upgrade some unused and under-used properties downtown. He and his sister, Moultrie Main Street Director Amy Johnson, were among the people hailed Thursday for their vision that is beginning to become reality.

Also praised was DeWitt Drew of Southwest Georgia Bank, whose contributions in particular led to the pocket park that was being dedicated.

“The bank owned this lot for about 30 years before somebody had a good idea what to do with it,” Drew said during the dedication of the park on Second Avenue at First Street Southeast.

The bank donated the land to Downtown Moultrie Tomorrow, and various individuals and businesses provided the money to turn the vacant lot into a park. DMT is now donating the finished park to the city, which will maintain it.

The park features green space, two tables with umbrellas, and flower beds enclosed in red brick. It’s lined with brick pavers consistent with the streetscape throughout other parts of downtown.

The next project on the list, according to speakers at Thursday’s ceremony, will be revitalizing the parking lot on Second Street Southeast, behind Beans and Strings and across from the Intermodal Transportation Facility.

Other projects include another pocket park at the site of the former Sportsman Restaurant. Herndon said closing is coming soon on the purchase of the property where the dilapidated building now stands.

The committee is working to get security cameras to install downtown, Herndon said, and the committee wants to create a welcome center that will be housed in a downtown building.