Improvements in and around parks in Waycross could be on the horizon.
The city has applied for a $2 million grant from a portion of Georgia’s American Rescue Plan Act allotment that Gov. Brian Kemp made available earlier this year for recreation upgrades in economically depressed areas in state cities. Kemp dedicated $250 million for the program with the grants capped at $2 million.
The program is designed to promote a more active and healthy lifestyle in disadvantaged neighborhoods or “Qualified Census Tracts.” This could include something as simple as increasing the number of sidewalks around a park to facilitate access to its amenities to as playground equipment or even something as elaborate as a “splashpad” like the city has in Pernell Roberts Memorial Park.
Trey Gavin, the city’s Consulting Engineer from ESG, said current recreational areas in three of the city’s five commission districts fall into the demographic targeted by the grants. Those are areas at and around Bailey Street Park, Garlington Park and Elizabeth Park.
Gavin, who wrote the grant application, told commissioners chances of receiving approval for the grant would be enhanced if the city used some of its own funds to match part of the grant.
He said the city could use a portion of its own remaining ARPA allotment to put with the application. Finance Director said there is more than $600,000 available from city ARPA funds that could be used as a match.
“It would show them you have some ‘skin’ in the game” in making the request, Gavin said.
Commissioners were unanimous on the consensus to have Gavin prepare the request with Mayor Michael-Angelo James signing off on it.
“I like the idea of improving parks regardless of where they are,” said Commissioner Henry Strickland, who didn’t have an area in his District 5 that qualified. “It shows people we’re listening and doing something to improve their quality of life, like enhancingthe sidewalk system. Even people who aren’t going to the park are going to enjoy having a sidewalk even if we don’t use the (money) for anything else.
“This (match) a good use of the money we have available.”
Colleague Norman Davis, in District 1, agreed, particularly on the sidewalks.
“People are walking in the street to so many places,” he said. “(Sidewalks) would help everyone.”
Gavin provided the commissioners with the price of options that could be secured if the grant is awarded:
•Sidewalks, $75 to $125 per running foot. Gavin estimated areas for each around each of the parks to be $340,000 for Garlington, $275,000 for Elizabeth and $115,000 for Bailey Street.
•Playground equipment, $25,000 to $150,000;
•Parking lot (10 spaces), $100,000;
•Restroom facility, $150,000 to $200,000;
•Splashpad, $75,000 to $200,000. The city’s current pad was about $150,000.
Gavin suggested if money is secured, remaining city ARPA funds that are targeted for items like recreation could be used for upgrades in the non-targeted districts. Currently, each commissioner has $10,000 dedicated for parks in their district.
The city has partnered with the Okefenokee Regional Library System to place a solar charging station in E.E. Moore Park. The station offers ports to charge up to 10 devices and wifi access for up to 150 feet from the tower.
Public Works Director James Smart said last week that depending on the weather, the station could be installed and operational at some point this week. It needed only a concrete pad poured and the tower affixed to the pad once the concrete was cured.
Commissioners hope the installation will be followed by others elsewhere in city parks. The station for E.E. Moore is part of a pilot program by the state in which the regional system has placed towers in each of its five member counties — Appling, Bacon Clinch, Pierce and Ware. Towers already have been installed in the other counties.
