Park projects are given approval

Though there has been much public attention given recently to updated plans for Evans Town Center Park, other Columbia County parks also are getting some upgrades.

//

Last week, county commissioners approved a nearly $76,000 bid from Judson-Whitworth Construction to build a gatehouse at Wildwood Park. Construction should start in the next 45 days and take three months to complete, county Construction and Maintenance Director Scott Herring said.

Work is under way to construct a new entrance road about 100 feet farther west from the original entrance road.

Commissioners also approved a $84,700 bid from Tran Construction to build restroom facilities at Eubank Blanchard Park.

The project should start within a month and take 60 days to complete, Herring said.

Though not a park, the Columbia County Merchant's Association-owned fairground on Columbia Road is a popular public gathering place for events. County officials hope to build a multi-purpose center on the fairgrounds.

At a Tuesday meeting, commissioners approved a $68,700 bid from Cater-Watkins Associates Inc. for an architectural design of the facility, which will include 67,000-square-foot covered arena and a 6,000-square-foot exhibit hall.