Plans to upgrade five city parks go for approval by an Augusta committee Tuesday while a private pickleball proposal is recommended for rejection.
A long-awaited overhaul of Dyess Park downtown moves forward with a $774,786 expenditure for design services by Pond & Co. Plans include the demolition of a historic fire station at the site. The extensive redesign includes:
- A 4,800-square-foot community center
- A splash pad with pump house
- Two basketball courts, eight pickleball courts and a tennis court
- A bandstand, picnic pavilion, walking trails and outdoor fitness area
- Upgraded playground equipmen
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Also going before the Public Services Committee are the approval of design concepts for four other city parks. These include:
- Blythe Community Center – Upgrades include tennis and pickleball courts
- Fleming Tennis Center – Includes resurfacing 13 courts, new restrooms
- McBean Park – Additions include tennis and pickleball courts, disc golf
- Newman Tennis Center – Resurfacing 18 tennis courts, lighting, drainage
Going before the Administrative Services Committee is a staff committee’s rejection of proposal by Troy Akers to build a 66-court tennis and pickleball complex in West Augusta.
Developers had pitched a plan to build the complex with a hotel but wanted the city to contribute to the project. The rejection says the project would divert sales tax funds intended for Newman.
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Other items going before Augusta Commission committees Tuesday include:
- An update from Interim General Counsel Jim Plunkett on drafting a letter of support keeping the name of James Brown on the new arena.
- An update on $250,000 sought by Sand Hills Urban Development for construction of six homes at 554 Boy Scout Road near Big Oak Park.
- An update rejecting most of the upgrades sought by citizens in a petition last month for Diamond Lakes Regional Park. The cost for the remaining upgrades is estimated at $691,000, including $200,000 for security cameras and $440,000 for sidewalks.
- Expanding the geographic boundary for paratransit to include areas of south Augusta. Expanding 10 miles would require nine additional bus operators and four additional vehicles.
- Replacing a Kardex Remstar vertical filing carousel for the Procurement Department for $50,897.
- Approving changes to Augusta’s animal services ordinance that were awaiting a redline version.
