Park closings proposals prompt visit from Augusta leaders

Augusta, Ga (WJBF) – Pendleton King Park is among the metropolis’s hottest, with supporters saying it has no enterprise being on a listing for closing.  

“We’re horribly disenchanted we’re hoping this won’t come to fruition, we moved right here not fairly two years in the past from Charleston as a result of the park was right here,” mentioned Berita Martin.

Metropolis leaders on the transfer taking a bus to tour ten parks the Rec division really useful the town ought to get away from, however closing parks just isn’t a simple choice. 

“All of those parks are important like I mentioned to every of the neighborhoods, we actually don’t need to shut any parks on the similar time I feel we’re going to have to take a look at the cash belt on the similar time,” mentioned Mayor Professional-Tem Bobby Williams.

These parks that we visited as we speak, they’ve a direct relationship to the neighborhoods during which they served, so we are able to’t lose sight of that,” mentioned Mayor Hardie Davis.  

The parks on the listing are both not owned by the town, close to different parks   underused, or in want main repairs. 

“It’s about sources, and if we don’t have the {dollars} to do what we have to do, it poses different challenges when it comes to security it’s simply not honest to the residents, so we’ve to make these robust choices,” mentioned Recreation and Parks Director Maurice McDowell.  

At Vineland, the park bus tour was greeted with indicators saying the neighbors need an funding and the small park to remain open.  

 It’s the one park we received and one of many solutions we received, we might ship our youngsters throughout the road to Washington Street, who’s going to ship a five-year-old or six-year-old throughout Washington Street to go to a park,” mentioned neighborhood resident Gene Salet.

Metropolis leaders didn’t get off the bus at Vineland to speak with residents.

“I used to be disenchanted, I imply it looks like they might have taken the time to step out and go searching somewhat bit,” mentioned resident Jim Graves. 

With regards to these troubled Rec websites metropolis leaders have seemed round however making a last choice on their future might be no stroll within the park.