During a design charrette Wednesday, orange paint and a few flagged stakes marked the path where a proposed road will someday mark the entry into Bryant Commons.
“It’s just some paint on the ground and it can change any way you want to change it,” Hinesville City Manager Billy Edwards told Bryant Commons Joint Management Board members.
The board members, along with representatives from the city of Hinesville, the Hinesville Downtown Development Authority and the Bryant Foundation Board of Trustees, met with engineers from P.C. Simonton to consider alternatives for a “noticeable” entry into the planned community park.
“The purpose today is to illicit ideas,” Edwards said. “Nothing is set in stone.”
“There are no boundaries,” said Paul Simonton of P.C. Simonton. “Let’s think outside the box.”
The current plans call for Ryon Avenue to be realigned about 60 feet to the east so it is more centered across from Bryant Commons, and will in effect create a four-way intersection with Highway 84, Simonton explained.
“The intent is to basically have the loop road all the way around the amphitheater,” he said.
The Bryant Commons development plans includes an outdoor amphitheater, a 15-acre man-made lake in addition to an existing pond on the property, walking trails, a community center pavilion, picnic areas, a play structure and renovations to existing buildings on the property.
Edwards said the 150-acre property has a 75-acre conservation easement so that “more than half of the property will be kept pristine and undeveloped.”
The price tag for future development of Bryant Commons is estimated at $8 million, the city manager said. Edwards said the project will be paid for with a combination of SPLOST funds and a OneGeorgia grant.
Charrette attendees also touched on finding an alternate location for the amphitheater, which, for now, will be built behind the man-made lake. Edwards said Timber Lane property owners whose properties border Bryant Commons have voiced concerns regarding noise the proposed amphitheater might generate. The city manager said the joint management board members could meet with residents for further discussion. Edwards said at least six yearly cultural and fine arts events would be held in the outdoor amphitheater.
Board member and former Hinesville City Council member Bobby Ryon said the property was envisioned as “a passive park” by its former owners, Glenn E. and Trudie P. Bryant. The Bryants established the Bryant Family Foundation. Glenn Bryant, founder of Coastal Communications, died in 1999. He and his wife were involved in local and state politics, various businesses and the Liberty County community. The philanthropic couple’s former home now serves as the Independent Telecommunications Pioneer Association Museum and is the association’s national headquarters.
Ryon said the Bryants were modest and unassuming people, and any proposed tribute to them — such as life size sculptures — should be subdued, as they were in life.
Atlanta sculptor Martin Dawe said if commissioned to sculpt the Bryants’ likenesses, he could do it in such a way as to make the piece intimate and welcoming.
“We could have them seated or we could do a simple relief plaque,” Dawe said. Dawe, founder of Cherrylion Studios, has sculpted large bronze pieces for private, corporate and public clients.
Edwards said Bryant Commons will be “a huge asset, not just to Hinesville but to the region.”
“It’s just some paint on the ground and it can change any way you want to change it,” Hinesville City Manager Billy Edwards told Bryant Commons Joint Management Board members.
The board members, along with representatives from the city of Hinesville, the Hinesville Downtown Development Authority and the Bryant Foundation Board of Trustees, met with engineers from P.C. Simonton to consider alternatives for a “noticeable” entry into the planned community park.
“The purpose today is to illicit ideas,” Edwards said. “Nothing is set in stone.”
“There are no boundaries,” said Paul Simonton of P.C. Simonton. “Let’s think outside the box.”
The current plans call for Ryon Avenue to be realigned about 60 feet to the east so it is more centered across from Bryant Commons, and will in effect create a four-way intersection with Highway 84, Simonton explained.
“The intent is to basically have the loop road all the way around the amphitheater,” he said.
The Bryant Commons development plans includes an outdoor amphitheater, a 15-acre man-made lake in addition to an existing pond on the property, walking trails, a community center pavilion, picnic areas, a play structure and renovations to existing buildings on the property.
Edwards said the 150-acre property has a 75-acre conservation easement so that “more than half of the property will be kept pristine and undeveloped.”
The price tag for future development of Bryant Commons is estimated at $8 million, the city manager said. Edwards said the project will be paid for with a combination of SPLOST funds and a OneGeorgia grant.
Charrette attendees also touched on finding an alternate location for the amphitheater, which, for now, will be built behind the man-made lake. Edwards said Timber Lane property owners whose properties border Bryant Commons have voiced concerns regarding noise the proposed amphitheater might generate. The city manager said the joint management board members could meet with residents for further discussion. Edwards said at least six yearly cultural and fine arts events would be held in the outdoor amphitheater.
Board member and former Hinesville City Council member Bobby Ryon said the property was envisioned as “a passive park” by its former owners, Glenn E. and Trudie P. Bryant. The Bryants established the Bryant Family Foundation. Glenn Bryant, founder of Coastal Communications, died in 1999. He and his wife were involved in local and state politics, various businesses and the Liberty County community. The philanthropic couple’s former home now serves as the Independent Telecommunications Pioneer Association Museum and is the association’s national headquarters.
Ryon said the Bryants were modest and unassuming people, and any proposed tribute to them — such as life size sculptures — should be subdued, as they were in life.
Atlanta sculptor Martin Dawe said if commissioned to sculpt the Bryants’ likenesses, he could do it in such a way as to make the piece intimate and welcoming.
“We could have them seated or we could do a simple relief plaque,” Dawe said. Dawe, founder of Cherrylion Studios, has sculpted large bronze pieces for private, corporate and public clients.
Edwards said Bryant Commons will be “a huge asset, not just to Hinesville but to the region.”