Recreation, parks and public works report mixed results: campgrounds underperform while roads, drainage and SPLOST projects advance
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Summary
Recreation staff said Blythe Island RV occupancy is down (about 35% year-to-date) while parks crews reported progress on playground inspections, dock repairs and a 10-year CIP; Public Works and capital development highlighted dredging, ditch cleaning and accelerated SPLOST project starts with several major infrastructure projects moving to construction.
Glynn County’s recreation, parks and public-works teams reported a mix of performance outcomes and construction milestones during the county strategic-plan review.
Lisa McGannish, recreation and parks director, said the RV campground at Blythe Island Regional Park is off track: “Through January, our year to date average daily occupancy rate for the RV campground is around 35%,” she said, compared with 39% the same time last year. Staff said external factors — competition from private campgrounds, weekday versus weekend demand and weather patterns — are reducing weekday occupancy and that marketing and pricing adjustments are being deployed to try to raise usage.
Parks staff reported operational successes and capital activity: boat hoists averaged about 5.5 hoists per day against a target of seven, seasonal lifeguard staffing is trending well with a $500 hiring/retention bonus, playground inspections are expanding with additional certified inspectors and Black Island dock repairs after Hurricane Helene are complete. Project work includes sidewalk construction at Selvin Park (120-day timeline), field improvements at Northland Softball Complex and well/drainage work to improve park irrigation and playing fields.
Public Works director Sean Robinson reviewed maintenance metrics and strategic drainage projects. Robinson said the department cleaned about 131,944 linear feet of roadside ditch (a roughly 30% increase over prior year figures) but fell short on some targets because of equipment availability; crew shortages and repair downtime limited pipe-jetting work (31,259 linear feet vs. a 50,000-foot target) and caused schedule slippages on island outfall cleaning. He credited new equipment purchases (dump trucks, jet-vac trucks) and greater use of contractors for allowing the department to expand reach.
Capital development and engineering staff updated the commission on SPLOST and other capital projects. Staff said SPLOST projects have been accelerated in some cases and that three of four remaining 2016 SPLOST projects were completed; the county tracks projects online and reported nearly doubling its sidewalk target and substantial progress on road resurfacing (31 centerline miles completed with more scheduled in 2026). Coastal revetment work is under way with land-side work complete and barge operations slated to begin this month.
Commissioners praised staff for maintenance gains and for progress on capital projects while urging targeted follow-up on underperforming campground occupancy and the jet-truck repairs that delayed pipe-cleaning. No formal votes were taken; staff will continue reporting metrics at future QERs and publish project updates to the county website.