Tour of Macon recreation facilities gives fresh perspective on needs
County Commissioners and Mayor Lester Miller visited Linear and Filmore Thomas parks and Memorial Park and Frank Johnson recreation centers
Macon-Bibb County Parks & Recreation Director Robert Walker, right, said SPLOST-funded improvements to the gym at Frank Johnson Recreation Center increased use of the facility.
The director of Macon-Bibb County’s Parks and Recreation Department made the case for future improvements to be considered in the next Special Purpose Local Option Sales Tax.
Robert Walker explained that millions of dollars spent through the 2018 SPLOST met a lot of needs inside facilities but more work is needed outdoors at Memorial Park and Frank Johnson recreation centers.
Commissioners also looked at the condition of Filmore Thomas Park off Log Cabin Drive, which is an open facility with a pavilion and splash pad, but no building for meetings or other events.
The county recently accepted a $1.375 million grant to enhance Linear Park along Interstate 75 in Pleasant Hill.
Tedra Huston, executive director of the Community Enhancement Authority, and social entrepreneur Tonja Khabir, who is a stakeholder in Pleasant Hill, told commissioners they have been working with local residents in recent years to learn more about their recreation and neighborhood needs.
Here are highlights from the tour captured in tweets sent during the visits which took place in lieu of a meeting of the Committee of the Whole.
– Civic Journalism Senior Fellow Liz Fabian covers Macon-Bibb County government entities and can be reached at [email protected] or 478-301-2976.
