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Commissioners discuss returning Memorial Park and Bailey Street Park to city after municipal recreation grant
Summary
Ware County commissioners discussed offering Memorial Park and Bailey Street Park back to the City after the City received a state recreation grant; Recreation staff urged keeping Memorial Park for after-school programs and staff flagged lifeguard and utility cost questions.
Ware County commissioners on Feb. 13 discussed returning Memorial Park and Bailey Street Park to the City of Waycross after the city reportedly received a state recreation grant.
Commissioner Leonard Burse said the City approached the county about taking back the parks after receiving “a grant of more than $2 million from Governor Kemp earmarked for recreation.” He said the City Manager plans to present the matter to the City Commission on Monday, Feb. 17, and suggested county staff should meet with city staff after that meeting before the county takes any formal action.
Lance Adamson of the county Recreation Department said he would like to keep Memorial Park for the county’s after-school programs, noting the department currently receives a state grant that helps fund tutoring and teachers for those programs. County Manager James Shubert said the city would be responsible for utilities if it takes over the pool and noted the YMCA had not yet committed to providing lifeguards; staff estimated lifeguard costs at about $12,000 if the YMCA does not supply them.
Commissioner Timmy Lucas observed that if the City takes over the pool, the City would inherit expenses for lifeguards, security and upkeep. Chairman Elmer Thrift and others said the board should wait for the City Commission’s decision; no formal action to transfer park operations was taken by the county at the meeting.
The item will return to the county commission after the City Commission discusses the matter.
