Recreation, Family Y officials ironing out plan on services

Columbia County recreation and Family Y officials are settling terms on what services each will offer at the new Blanchard Woods Park.

"We set up a task force with the Family Y, myself, (county) Recreation Advisory Board members and hammered out the different components," said Barry Smith, the director of the county's Community and Leisure Services department.

"We got all of that resolved to where we'll offer certain things and they'll offer certain things," he said. "There won't be any duplication on athletic programming."

The details of what services each will offer will be included in a memorandum of understanding between the county commission and the Family Y, Smith said.

Also to be included in the document will be the particulars of a lease agreement between the county and the Family Y.

Family Y officials want to lease about 14 acres near the front of Blanchard Woods Park to build an $8 million complex. The Columbia County Recreation Department also will conduct programs at the park.

The commission will lease the land to the Family Y for 10 years for $1 per year, according to a fax Smith sent to The Columbia County News-Times. The lease can be renewed for another decade once the original lease ends.

Family Y's complex will include, according to the fax, a 50,000-square-foot facility, indoor and outdoor pools, fitness center, gymnasium, indoor track, four athletic fields and a water park.

Before the Family Y can proceed with construction, a survey of the land it will lease must first be performed, Smith said.

Smith said he has asked the Family Y to pay the $4,000 fee for the survey, but he had not heard back from Y officials on Thursday.

"At this point, it's in their court to see if we'll proceed with the survey," he said.