Greetings,
After an extensive process for almost two year process this plan was adopted in the fall of 2016 by the Augusta Commission.
Within these pages you will find a variety of statistical reports; park assessments; public opinion polling results; trail maps and over 150 recommendations on how, together, we can make our park system in Augusta one of the best in the state and country.
From a historical prospective, this was the first time since 1972 that the agency had undergone a comprehensive assessment and Masterplan process. The 1972 plan was updated in 1976 and in 1979 and several components introduced and recommended in these plans have been implemented, most notably the opening of Diamond Lakes Regional Park in 1999.
Consolidated System’s First Master Plan
Our current Masterplan is the first since the consolidation of the City of Augusta and Richmond County in 1996. We aim to update this plan in 2021 to remain current with customer wishes, programming trends, facility needs and changing economic times.
Plan’s Components
There are five major sections of the Masterplan that we will focus on in the early implementation stages. These are: Prioritization of Demands and Need; Funding and Revenue Strategies; Site Specific Improvement Master Plans; Capital Funding Prioritization; and Marketing and Communications. Some of this work has started with the February 2017 passing of the 2017-2021 Capital Improvement Program.
The approval of development and construction funds from SPLOST VI and SPLOST VII now gives the agency over $18 million dollars to enhance our park system. Our staff is currently working on all the five major areas in hopes of implementation over the next five to ten years. Please keep checking back here as well as the overall Augusta, Georgia website www.augustaga.gov.
Next Steps
Although the Masterplan is completed and approved we will continue to solicit your input as we go through the implementation stage of the Masterplan. You can always share your feedback through this website and we will routinely conduct customer surveys as well. We hope you will share with us your continued opinions of how we are preforming and how we can better serve our customers.
H. Glenn Parker, Director
Augusta Recreation and Parks
