Harlem City Council is scheduled to vote on progress for the town’s park projects in its next regular meeting. Among the items discussed during the council’s work session, Thursday evening, were the next phase in renewing Harlem City Park, and a review of the multi-purpose park being developed at the former North Harlem Elementary School property.
The upcoming “Green Phase” of the Harlem City Park renovation is to entail the installation of restrooms and a playground, explained Mayor Roxanne Whitaker. Columbia County is to supply half a million in special purpose local option sales tax (SPLOST) funds designated for the renovations.
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Amenities for the North Harlem multi-purpose park are to include a splash pad, playground, equipment storage, a frisbee golf area, a veterans memorial and a pavilion. City manager Debra Moore noted that the city had some $2 million set aside for the project, and that she had discussed cost estimates with Augusta firm Turnipseed Engineering, who is working on the development.
The project will be conducted in phases, Moore said, the first of which would include the splash pad and playground. In its upcoming meeting, the council is to vote on whether to move forward.
New business will also entail the recognition of Harlem Baptist Church’s 150th anniversary, which the church will celebrate on Saturday, Aug. 10.
There was no public comment during the second millage rate hearing during the meeting. The third and final millage rate hearing, in which the council will vote on whether to maintain its current rate of 9.35 mills, will be during the council’s regular meeting on Monday, July 22 at 7 p.m.
Skyler Q. Andrews is a staff reporter for The Augusta Press. Reach him at skyler@theaugustapress.com.
