Augusta park ranked as underused in line for major renovations

AUGUSTA, Ga. (WJBF) – Augusta is still preparing a plan on how to part ways with nine parks a local engineering firm scored as the most underused.

“Moving forward what we need to do with these parks. We’ve got people in this city that have mentioned and want to invest in purchasing these parks,” says Commissioner Catherine Smith Rice.  

Big Oak Park is not one of the nine being recommended for disposal, even though it scored lower than some on the list. However, Big Oak is getting a facelift.

“Adding pickleball courts, which everybody wants, and a new basketball area. I think it will be used a lot more,” said Commissioner Tina Slendak.

A commission committee voted to recommend nearly $1.7 million on the Big Oak renovations, despite the low attendance score and that’s concerning some commissioners.

“You have to consider the lipstick on the pig scenario. If you put money into that and you have no indication that it will draw, and that is exactly what you’ll be doing,” said Commissioner Lonnie Wimberly.

Supporters say voters approved the funding for Big Oak improvements in SPLOST 8  that passed back in 2021, and even with the renovations coming in well over budget, they want to see it go forward.

“When this park is re-done, it will be used more and it already was, before this survey was done this was already in the SPLOST package,” said Commissioner Rice.

“When this was developed, they weren’t talking about closing underused parks,” said Commissioner Slendak.

But the conversation around closing underused parks continues, even as some underused parks prepare for a major makeover.