Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Parks Capital Splost topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
County outlines $Hundreds of millions in parks, recreation and facilities projects; SPLOST growth reshapes options
Summary
Staff presented 90% design work and cost estimates for multiple parks and county facility projects (OVP tennis expansion, Heritage Park equestrian facilities, Wendell & Benny Dawson Park, Field Services building and courthouse renovations), and said updated SPLOST projections raise funding options including bonding and phased builds.
County staff presented project status and preliminary cost estimates for multiple parks and county facility projects and outlined funding options tied to the county's special local option sales tax (SPLOST) program.
Staff said design work is at or near 90% for several projects: the OVP (originally "OVP") tennis expansion would increase courts to a planned 24 courts with stormwater and parking upgrades; Hermit C. Michael Park (referred to in the packet as Herman C. Michael) would be reconfigured to add pickleball and junior courts as part of overall park infrastructure changes; Heritage Park is under 90%-plus design with grading, drainage, covered and uncovered arenas, RV/trailer parking and upgraded electrical/irrigation for equestrian footing; and Wendell & Benny Dawson Park concepts include multiple options for phase 1 ranging from roughly $15.95 million to $18.35 million depending on field counts and trail/parking configuration.
The presenter gave top-line cost estimates from design packages: Heritage Park aggregate capital investment was estimated at about $6,000,000; Dawson Park Phase 1 option A was estimated at $16,150,000 (parking, four rectangular fields, restroom/storage, pavilion and walking trail), option B at about $15,950,000 (six fields, no walking trail), and option C at about $18,350,000 for a full 8-field configuration. Staff also noted a $10,000,000 placeholder for a Field Services Building (combining fleet, road and water field operations) and set-asides for courthouse renovations and courthouse design services.
Funding and SPLOST: Staff reviewed SPLOST projections and accounting. The packet portrayed a larger-than-expected revenue projection: staff said projected collections for the current SPLOST cycle are approximately $72,000,000 total, which exceeds earlier estimates used when the referendum was drafted (staff said original referendum expectations were roughly $51.7 million). Staff explained how that additional projected collection creates flexibility to accelerate some projects or consider bonds. "If you get extra money, you could easily go over and hit those fields," one commissioner said; another commissioner noted a bond could let current and future users pay over time.
Board direction and phasing: Commissioners expressed a preference for an option that would maximize field space in early phases (several commissioners favored option B for Dawson Park because it delivers six fields and needed parking up front), while acknowledging large capital and operating costs and the likelihood of value engineering and phased construction."We're gonna have to see what we can do now versus change up later," staff said. Commissioners also discussed use conflicts with school facilities and the need for indoor gym space and shared concerns about maintenance and operations (OPEX) for event-grade equestrian footing.
Next steps: Staff will return with more detailed cost estimates, refined schedules and potential funding scenarios for board consideration. No formal vote or appropriation was recorded; staff asked for direction on which options to analyze further.
Votes at a glance: No formal votes were recorded during this agenda item.
