Augusta, GA
14 months later, upgrades still not started at Augusta park
AUGUSTA, Ga. (WRDW/WAGT) – Augusta’s Dyess Park is in desperate need of improvements – and city leaders agree.
In November of 2023, $6.5 million in sales tax money was set aside to revitalize the park.
The funds have been sitting on a shelf since then, and in the meantime, neighbors are paying the price.
While the city debates what to do with the community center, people who could be using this park are still stuck waiting.
At Dyess Park, playtime never stops.
“This should be their safe space,” said Mia Tate, Augusta resident, and parent.
It’s proof that joy can thrive in a place where promises fade.
“Can you be patient? You gotta be patient,” Tate said to her child.
Patience – something neighbors around Dyess Park are losing.
“I thought we did all the talking that we were going to do,” said Stanley Hawes, who lives near Dyess Park. ”All the talking over with, it’s time for action, that’s all.”
Standing in the way of progress is the locked community center.
“Literally and figuratively speaking, I weep,” said Hawes. “I weep because there are kids in my neighborhood that don’t have a chance.”
A historic building turned into an eyesore
“We can’t build communities with an empty building right there,” said Hawes.
For nearly 20 years, Hawes has lived next to the park.
“Some people got places to go, they can take their kids to the YMCA or whatever,” said Hawes. “Some of us here can’t do that, some of them got just what’s dealt to them.”
There is a playground, but other than that–
“Empty swimming pool,” said Hawes. “They have caught kids over there playing in a dangerous area because they had nothing else to do.”
It’s leaving some parents asking for change.
“If they have things that they’re able to exert their energy on versus what we will quote unquote say negative things, then we’ll see more impact on them having healthy and positive expressions on their faces and exerting of their energy there,” said Tate.
In return, they are hopeful a positive impact on the community could come about.
“If the government wants to help and the community takes it, take their part,” said Tate. “I think it would make a big impact and see everything flourish and go in the direction that everybody wants it to go.”
Commissioners say the talks about improving Dyess Park go back to 2004 and as you can see. some neighbors are tired of waiting.
“Hopefully they will decide to go ahead on and do this thing,” said Hawes.
Also Tuesday, Augusta Commission members:
- Approved supplemental funding not to exceed $15.4 million for Hurricane Helene debris removal services with Ceres Environmental Services Inc. Also approved the use of general fund fund-balance to fund these services.
- Approved supplemental funding in an amount not to exceed $1.272 million for Hurricane Helene debris removal monitoring services with Goodwyn, Mills & Cawood Inc. Also approved use of general fund fund-balance to fund these services.
- Approved supplemental funding in an amount not to exceed $874,319 for Hurricane Helene debris removal coordination support services with Infrastructure Systems Management LLC. Also approved use of general fund-fund balance to fund these services.
- Approved a motion to approve task order No. 1 with an amount not to exceed $500,000 for Hurricane Helene cost recovery services through Tetra Tech.
- Agreed to have Troy Akers meet with city officials to come back with a plan for a sports facility including pickleball courts off Interstate 20 near Doctors Hospital. He’s proposing 18 championship-size tennis courts and 48 pickleball courts. He’d also like a 15,000-square-foot gym with a walking track. His goal is to bring back tennis to Richmond County and introduce and grow kickball here, which he said “would put us on the map in the state.” He said the location near I-20 would help.
- Heard from Richard Skuse about paratransit services. He’s a blind veteran who moved here in 2009. “Over the last year, it’s gone downhill, specifically in the last several months,” he said of the service. He gave an example from around Christmas when he called paratransit and was told the service was booked up and he needed to call two weeks in advance. The director of paratransit says there are issues, one being vehicles being down in an accident and also there being a 24-hour notice. Skuse says it’s not just got him, but it’s those living check to check, and having to schedule two weeks out is hard. Commissioners decided to task the administrator and her team to work with transit and come up with a plan.
- Approved purchase of video surveillance security systems for three locations along the Augusta Canal as a sole source procurement in the amount of $90,854.
- Approved Augusta Utilities’ purchase of SmartWorks MDM for AMI data integration as a sole source procurement from systems and software in the amount of $607,000.
- Approved continued funding of the current “on-call property appraisal and acquisition services for Augusta engineering” contract in the amount of $350,000.
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Augusta, GA – Entered into rest Sunday, April 19, 2026. Mr. James Byron Duncan, 80, was the loving husband of Estelle Mulherin Duncan as well as devoted father, doting grandfather, and lifelong friend to many.
Byron was born and raised in Augusta, GA, the son of W.B. and Kathleen Duncan. After graduating from Butler High School in 1965, Byron’s kind heart called him into Social Work. He earned his Bachelor of Sociology from Augusta College in 1969. After 34 years of dedicated service to the State of Georgia, Byron retired in 2003 as Director of Jefferson County Family and Children Services. He devoted his life wholeheartedly to both service to others and dedication to his family, working in the tough field of social work while remaining a fiercely loving, spirited and unwaveringly passionate man.
His deepest commitments were to his wife, children, granddaughters, siblings, church, the Knights of Columbus and the Georgia Bulldogs.
Byron was deeply rooted in his faith and community. He was an active member of St. Mary on the Hill Catholic Church, where he had served as an usher, Extraordinary Minister of Holy Communion, and finance committee member. He was also a proud member of the Knights of Columbus, Patrick Walsh Council 677 and Assembly 174, the Irish American Heritage Society and the Rotary Club of Louisville, GA. A true Georgia Bulldog at heart, Byron never missed an opportunity to cheer for his Dawgs, whether they were playing football, basketball, baseball or any other sport. He loved the simple joys of life – days at the beach, Jimmy Buffett, beach music and shagging, and a house full of family and friends. For many years, Byron delighted young and old alike by donning the red suit and playing Santa Claus at various events as well as visiting the classrooms at St. Mary on the Hill Catholic School as St. Nicholas.
Byron possessed the gift of gab! He never met a stranger and could often be observed enthusiastically carrying on a deep conversation with old friends or a stranger he just met on the street. No conversation with him was brief!
Family meant everything to him. He is survived by his beloved wife of 40 years, Estelle Mulherin Duncan; his children Sean M. Duncan (Jennifer), Matthew M. Duncan and Megan E. Duncan; his bonus daughter, Allison Crow (Joe), and his treasured grandchildren Riley, Emma and Harper Duncan, who brought him endless joy. He is also survived by his brother Keith Duncan; sisters Sheryl Werrick and Marcia Golden; brothers-in-law Dr. Joe Mulherin, Robert Gibson and Tom King; sister-in-law Janet M. Gibson; and numerous nieces and nephews.
A Funeral Mass will be celebrated on Friday, April 24, 2026, at 1:00 P.M. at St. Mary on the Hill Catholic Church with Fr. Mark Ross as celebrant. Interment will follow at Westover Memorial Park. A Rosary service will be held Thursday evening at 6:00 P.M., followed by visitation from 6:30 until 8:00 P.M. at Thomas Poteet & Son.
Memorial contributions may be made to Aquinas High School, 1920 Highland Ave., Augusta, GA 30904 or St. Mary on the Hill Catholic Church, 1420 Monte Sano Ave., Augusta, GA 30904 for the Our Faith Our Future Capital Campaign.
Thomas Poteet & Son Funeral Directors, 214 Davis Road, Augusta, GA 30907, (706) 364-8484. Please sign the guestbook at thomaspoteet.com
AUGUSTA, Ga. (WJBF) – Georgia Gubernational candidate Geoff Duncan made another appearance in Augusta on Monday, speaking at the IBEW Local 1579 on Reynolds Street.
Duncan is one of the three candidates vying for the Democratic nomination. Duncan said when he served as lieutenant governor of the state, he fought to expand access to health care in rural communities. He said if he’s elected, he’ll focus on lowering costs in other areas.
Duncan stopped by NewsChannel 6 ahead of the campaign stop to speak about his plans.
“Look, 90% of Georgians know what they’re talking about when they want to pass commonsense gun legislation like universal background checks, red flag laws, and in-home safe storage laws. As governor, I want to lead the charge, and I want to give political cover to those Republicans that want to do the right thing, build those consensus around those bills,” Duncan said. “I hope to get some of them the cosign that legislation. Because it meets people where they’re at. It’s common sense. Look, I don’t want anybody to ever walk by a television screen and make another excuse for a mass shooting when it could have been stopped. With just common sense laws that are on the books.”
Photojournalist credit: Regynal McKie
AUGUSTA, Ga. (WJBF) – Golden Harvest Food Bank is partnering with local legal organizations for the 15th Annual Georgia Food Frenzy.
The fundraising competition is held in partnership with Feeding Georgia, the Office of the Georgia Attorney General, the State Bar of Georgia, and the Young Lawyers Division of the State Bar of Georgia.
The two-week competition runs from April 20th through May 1st, and every dollar raised stays local, supporting Golden Harvest’s work across the state of Georgia.
Groups can register at www.galegalfoodfrenzy.org/sign-up, and registration will remain open throughout the competition.
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