Meeting will explain park plan

A master plan for the new Evans Town Center Park will be unveiled Monday during a public meeting at the Evans Government Center Auditorium.

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The meeting, to be conducted by Atlanta-based consulting firm Jordan, Jones and Goulding Inc., begins at 7 p.m.

"It's in the consultant's contract to hold two public meetings," said Barry Smith, Columbia County's director of community and leisure services. "We've already had one meeting. We're holding our second to gain input from the community as to the amenities that they feel should be included in the master plan."

Amenities offered in the plan include three lawn areas, one of which is about 5 acres; pavilions that would be available for rent; restrooms; concessions; parking; and a walking track lined with trees and dotted with resting stations, Smith said.

Much of the master plan was developed from comments during the first public meeting held last spring and the Evans Town Center Park Committee, Smith said. Initially, consultants developed three plans and then combined elements of each into a master plan.

"Basically, the community wanted open space, but with some refinements," he said. "We took all those comments and gave them to the consultants and then they started work on the three plans."

After Monday's meeting, consultants will review public comments and possibly tweak the master plan, Smith said.

For those unable to attend the meeting, Smith said, it will be videotaped and available for viewing on the county's Web site, where the public also may submit comments.

Smith was unsure when construction on the park might begin.

Much of the sales tax funds dedicated to the new park, $4.8 million, was spent on purchasing the property. Not enough remains for construction of the entire area, Smith said.

He said county commissioners could issue a bond referendum to be paid with revenues from the next sales tax cycle to obtain immediate funds for park construction.