Long-term Recreation Plan Is Reviewed

Justin Crighton, planner with the Northeast Georgia Regional Commission (NEGRC), spoke to a handful of people Monday evening about long term plans for the county’s recreation programs.

Mr. Crighton went through the plan’s purpose and process.

It began with a community profile, then continued with a facilities inventory, needs assessment and then ended with goals and recommendation.

The planning committee started with a survey of needs. The survey was handed out on opening day of spring ball season and 70 percent of those who responded were pleased with the facilities. The greatest needs determined were trails, swimming, and an indoor gym that could offer activities such as basketball, gymnastics, perhaps meeting rooms, and other activities.

The first recommendation was to improve the current facility and expand the current facility. Then the next need is to expand recreation programs, and provide community meeting space. Those expansions would requires an expansion of maintenance and personnel. Lastly, the recreation plan looked at finance enhancements.

The estimated cost of a 30,000 square foot facilities that would provide gym(s), office space, meeting areas and the like is $4.5 million. The total plan recommendation calls for about $7 million, which includes the building, paved parking with lighting, and paved walking trails.

One of the suggestions for how to raise the funds were to use Special Purpose Local Option Sales Tax (SPLOST) dollars, and another was to utilities federal and state grant programs. The current county SPLOST has earmarked $300,000 for improvements at the rec center, with the thought being that could be used for matching funds if grants coujld be found.

Mr. Crighton indicated there’s not a lot of government money available, but that there is some. He also suggested creative ways to raise money such as partnering with business and industry. There is nothing wrong with putting someone’s name on the building, if they want to pay for it, he said.

He also said that what he used for cost estimates was a nationwide database, so his prices may be high. Also, those gathered mentioned parking did not have to be paved, and there are other places to cut.

The plan should be on the NEGRC website, www.negrc.org, and also on the county website by the end of the week. Questions may also be directed to Mr. McMichael at 706-468-4916 or County Manager Karen Degges, 706-468-4900.