Augusta, GA
Neighbors vexed over city leasing out Eisenhower Park
AUGUSTA, Ga. (WRDW/WAGT) – Construction crews have been hard at work at Eisenhower Park, which the Augusta National Golf Club has leased for parking during the Masters Tournament.
There’s now lots of circular tracks in the dirt, moving concrete blocks, and digging up the old foundation.
Where older field towers used to stand, now lies an open field that will soon house patrons months from now.
“Well, they can get plenty of cars in here, not surprised,” said nearby neighbor, Matthew Mayes. “It doesn’t bother me. At least they’ll be using it for something. I love coming down here.”
Mayes says he walks around this track most every day. He says the front side of the park is in constant use, but the lower fields will only see the occasional dog walker and pick-up game.
“A lot of people come and walk their dogs on it,” he said. “A lot of kids down here when baseball season gets going on, weather warms up you’ll see a lot more kids at this playground over here.”
But not all the neighbors are happy about it.
Parents and neighbors across “Nextdoor” are frustrated to find out their park next door isn’t just getting a renovation.
Among the comments:
- “I take my son there, he’s 2 and loves it.”
- “Greed at work, kids don’t have a place to go now.”
- “There are no benefits for the regular people of Augusta.”
However, Commissioner Sean Frantom reassures park-goers.
“They’re taking a few fields that were not even in use anyway, and eventually it’s just going to put more greenspace in the park,” he said.
The city approved a three-year lease with Augusta National for about $10,000 a year to use the space for extra parking during Masters.
Through an open-records request, News 12 obtained mapped plans that show the parking lot to expand into three baseball diamonds at the park.
We’re working to find out more about the plans.
Copyright 2024 WRDW/WAGT. All rights reserved.
AUGUSTA, Ga. (WRDW/WAGT) – The 10th annual Juneteenth Augusta Festival brought families to the Augusta Fairgrounds on Friday despite the muggy heat.
Cultural and community-focused events, live music performances and food trucks were available at the celebration.
Tonia Hill, attending the Juneteenth celebration, said she loves the holiday and is supporting the community, though she acknowledged the weather conditions.
“I love Juneteenth. And I’m supporting everybody. It’s hot. It’s hot. It’s hot,” Hill said.
The festival runs until 10 p.m.
Copyright 2026 WRDW/WAGT. All rights reserved.
AUGUSTA, Ga. (WRDW/WAGT) – The Augusta Dream Center is seeing more families turn to its food pantry this summer as children lose access to school lunches.
Organizations like the Augusta Dream Center see a surge in families who relied on school lunches during the academic year, according to Hallie Kohan, assistant director.
“We see a lot more families that have young kids who are in need that simply don’t have those meals they are normally getting,” Kohan said. “We see an influx of families that come through.”
Demand is up, but the food supply is not keeping pace.
“Right now we are having some food distribution issues so while we are seeing an increase in families, we are seeing a decrease in the amount of food coming through our doors,” Kohan said.
The center is asking the community to host food drives or donate kid-friendly items such as mac and cheese and oatmeal.
Every Sunday the Dream Center opens its doors for a hot meal, serving as many as 120 people.
“Families can come in and get their hot meal. They sit down, it’s dignified, it’s a diner,” Kohan said. “It’s a welcoming experience for kids to come in and not feel like they are in need.”
No paperwork is required to receive help.
“Just because you think someone is in a great situation, in today’s economy you never know,” Kohan said. “It could be your neighbor, mom, or best friend.”
The Augusta Dream Center food pantry is open Tuesdays from 10 a.m. to noon and Thursdays from 5 to 6 p.m. Hot meals are served Sundays from 5 to 6 p.m.
Copyright 2026 WRDW/WAGT. All rights reserved.
AUGUSTA, Ga. (WRDW/WAGT) – Construction continues on the James Brown Linear Park in downtown Augusta, with ceiling tiles now installed inside the park structures.
The tiles feature designs showcasing the Godfather of Soul from different years in his career.
According to the city, the completed park will include an interactive water feature that will “dance” to Brown’s greatest hits. A statue of the music icon will return to a new stage at the park.
Copyright 2026 WRDW/WAGT. All rights reserved.
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