Augusta parks department presents camera-based usage audit; identifies 21 underutilized sites including Diamond Lakes work plan

Augusta Recreation and Parks officials told the Public Services Committee on Sept. 18 that a camera- and field-inspection audit of park usage conducted this summer has flagged about 21 parks as underutilized and identified planned improvements at Diamond Lakes Regional Park.

The department presented a methodology that combined five factors — park classification, condition, proximity to other parks, size and camera-observed usage — and used the maximum observed camera count divided by a site-specific capacity to calculate peak usage percentage. “We determined what the maximum capacity was for each park. And with having the maximum capacity, the cameras actually took pictures or monitored the actual people that were at the parks,” Deputy Director (presented as) Miss Williams said.

Why it matters: Parks staff say maintenance funding is not enough to bring all facilities up to standard. The audit is intended to help prioritize limited SPLOST and maintenance dollars toward parks with higher demand or strategic value.

Most important findings and follow-ups

- Diamond…