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.

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