A change of scope submitted by County staff received approval last week, clearing the way for state grant money to be used to renovate the four “clover leaf” ballfields at Yahoola Creek Park: Fields 7, 8, 9 and 10.
Originally that $1.25 million grant had been earmarked instead for installing artificial turf on the infields of Fields 4 and 6.
Meanwhile, the County is still waiting to hear back from the state on a proposed scope change for a second companion grant.
If approved, $1.57 million that was going to be used to convert the large soccer field into a multipurpose field with synthetic turf will instead be used to upgrade a currently unused rugby field located near the upper tennis courts.
Both grant projects would likely not start construction until 2026.
Also this week, the Lumpkin County Parks & Recreation Citizen Advisory Board announced intentions to request an expansion of scope from the County for a separate project to improve current conditions on Fields 5, 7, 8, 9, and 10.
That work is set to kick off in April of this year.
The board indicated it would like to see the grass stripped from the infields on Fields 1 and 2 to make them all dirt, expanding their usage from baseball and softball only to other sports.
TURF GRANTS
Parks & Rec Citizens Advisory Board Chair Hank Haynes began a review of ongoing business last Tuesday by updating the board on the status of two state grants totaling $2.8 million.
The grants were first announced on May 18, 2023 as part of the Improving Neighborhood Outcomes in Disproportionately Impacted Communities (INODIC) program.
Since that time, several different plans have been considered in order to make the most effective use of that award money.
Parks & Rec Manager Tim Towe told the board that once both scope changes have been approved, “everything will be set to go out for bid.”
“And we’re talking just the Clover Leaf?” asked board member Autumn Chatham.
Towe indicated that the two grants would cover both the turfing of the Clover Leaf infields and the turfing of a dormant rugby field, as well.
“That’s the one at the top next to the tennis courts?” asked Haynes.
Towe responded in the affirmative, and said that 2026 SPLOST funds would likely be used to add expanded parking and lights at the field as well.
Chatham pointed out that there is no water at the site, and the board agreed that portable restrooms would have to be used at the site until a permanent facility is added sometime in the future.
Towe said that the gated road to the rugby field leads to an existing parking lot.
“There’s a lot of parking up there. We cleaned it out. There’s over 40 spots,” Towe said.
Haynes said that any Parks & Rec sport would essentially have access to an extra field in the park that was previously unusable.
“That’s almost three fields up there,” noted board member Shawn Boyd.
“Now the part of it that’s not going to be turfed, is it going to be graded [and] sodded?” Boyd asked.
Towe said it would, and that additional space would be reserved for a potential future restroom and parking expansion.
Haynes called the plan to refurbish the rugby field a “huge” development.
“So [we’re doing] nothing with the multipurpose field?” asked Chatham. “We’re not re-doing parking, we’re not addressing the safety issue of soccer being on that field? I know that’s been an issue in the past … The soccer balls were being kicked off the field and kids were running in the road to get their soccer ball.”
Towe replied that there are ongoing discussions about improving the multipurpose field, but not using INODIC grant money.
“I thought this would have been fixed with the original plan,” Chatham said.
“It would have been, under the original scope,” Towe acknowledged.
FIELD RENOVATIONS
Next, Towe presented a proposal to expand pending field renovations in Yahoola Creek Park.
He said he had recently spoken with contractor River City Athletic Fields, and their earliest availability to start the project, which includes extensive repairs to Field 5 and tilling and laser grading for the Clover Leaf fields, is April 28.
Towe said he would also like to see modifications to Fields 1 and 2 added to the project, with the grass infields stripped and converted to all-dirt fields.
“Obviously with your guys’ recommendation we would take that to the Board of Commissioners, and we would change the work for the contract with River City,” Towe proposed.
“Do you think you can change the scope and keep the money the same?” asked Haynes.
Towe said it would be a possibility. He noted that portable mounds could be deployed for softball, keeping the fields as versatile as possible.
“If you take the grass off of that infield, anybody can practice down there,” Boyd said.
“Exactly, and that’s one of my reasons behind doing that is so everybody will be able to utilize Fields 1 and 2,” Towe responded.
“It makes [those fields] more versatile,” Haynes agreed. “I think if the money works out, it’s a no-brainer.”
Chatham voiced her support for the proposal, and Towe announced he would present the suggestion to the Board of Commissioners at an upcoming meeting.