LUDOWICI - The Long County commissioners recently discussed the possibility of establishing a park in the Sand Hill area.
Commissioner David Richardson brought the issue up, saying the county has five acres in the area. He said the land was bought for a park and he wanted to know where the project stood. Richardson also said he understanding funds had already been allocated for the project.
Commissioners Cliff DeLoach and Wallace Shaw said one of the reasons the project has been delayed was vandalism.
DeLoach also said it would be difficult to oversee and maintain a park that far from the city.
Richardson said he believed volunteers from the area would be willing to oversee and maintain the park if it is built.
Regarding funding, Shaw said he knew of only money for the land purchase.
He also said the funding now would have to come from the special purpose local option sales tax.
SPLOST funds different construction and purchase projects for recreation, solid waste management, roads and education
DeLoach said another reason the project had not been advanced was because of the need to increase the size of the park in Ludowici, resulting from the overall growth in the county.
The previous commission approved increasing the size of the park in two phases. Phase one was to be two baseball fields, additional parking and a concession/center complex. Phase two was to be two more baseball fields, a soccer/multipurpose field, and a football field.
After a brief discussion, Chairman Bobby Fuller said that once the park in Ludowici was completed, a park in the Sand Hill area would be considered. He also asked Richardson to come up with a plan for the park, and some estimates of the cost to run it.
Regarding the current park being completed, DeLoach reported the complex center/concession stand was nearly complete, that sodding the fields was still in the works and that he hoped the project would be completed by the time recreation baseball began.
Commissioners also went into executive session to discuss the hiring of a full-time recreation director, but, according to DeLoach, no decision was made.
Commissioner David Richardson brought the issue up, saying the county has five acres in the area. He said the land was bought for a park and he wanted to know where the project stood. Richardson also said he understanding funds had already been allocated for the project.
Commissioners Cliff DeLoach and Wallace Shaw said one of the reasons the project has been delayed was vandalism.
DeLoach also said it would be difficult to oversee and maintain a park that far from the city.
Richardson said he believed volunteers from the area would be willing to oversee and maintain the park if it is built.
Regarding funding, Shaw said he knew of only money for the land purchase.
He also said the funding now would have to come from the special purpose local option sales tax.
SPLOST funds different construction and purchase projects for recreation, solid waste management, roads and education
DeLoach said another reason the project had not been advanced was because of the need to increase the size of the park in Ludowici, resulting from the overall growth in the county.
The previous commission approved increasing the size of the park in two phases. Phase one was to be two baseball fields, additional parking and a concession/center complex. Phase two was to be two more baseball fields, a soccer/multipurpose field, and a football field.
After a brief discussion, Chairman Bobby Fuller said that once the park in Ludowici was completed, a park in the Sand Hill area would be considered. He also asked Richardson to come up with a plan for the park, and some estimates of the cost to run it.
Regarding the current park being completed, DeLoach reported the complex center/concession stand was nearly complete, that sodding the fields was still in the works and that he hoped the project would be completed by the time recreation baseball began.
Commissioners also went into executive session to discuss the hiring of a full-time recreation director, but, according to DeLoach, no decision was made.