North Augusta City Council members approved filing a grant application with South Carolina to add a facility near the city’s amphitheater on the Savannah River.
The grant application for $300,000 will go to the South Carolina Parks, Recreation and Tourism Department to request federal funding under the U.S. Department of the Interior’s Land and Water Conservation Fund. The fund was created in 1964 to safeguard natural areas, water resources and cultural heritage and to provide recreation opportunities.
The money would be used to construct a building near the amphitheater with restrooms. There would also be a dressing room that acts performing at the amphitheater can use.
“Today, when we have events at the amphitheater, we utilize the restrooms at the baseball stadium. It has worked for now, it’s not the best situation,” said Assistant City Administrator Rachelle Moody during the Feb. 7 council meeting. “Also, as we have acts, they need a place to go, they need a place to change and prepare for going on stage, they need a place to take a break, take a load off in between sets, you name it, and the Crowne Plaza has been generous to work with us.”
[adrotate banner=”51″]
The building would be on city-owned land that is also near the Greeneway and the boat dock that will be constructed adjacent to the amphitheater and stadium.
“In the event that there wasn’t something happening at the amphitheater, it will be just down the Greeneway from the boat dock that is going in as well. So again, it would be another facility for folks to utilize as they’re pulling up docking their boat and coming to enjoy everything that we have,” Moody said.
If the grant application is approved, the city would have to match the $300,000 federal funds with local money.
Moody said the staff has not determined specifically where the matching funds would come from but has identified three possible funding sources, including American Rescue Plan Act money the city will receive.
Dana Lynn McIntyre is a general assignment reporter for The Augusta Press. Reach her at dana@theaugustapress.com
