Two more picnic pavilions planned

A recently constructed pavilion at the Columbia County Memorial Gardens has been so popular among residents that two more covered structures are planned for that area.

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"It's really difficult on a nice day to find any place to sit, because people are just flocking to that area," said Sandy Boner, manager of the county's Rental Facilities and Venues Department. "It's so pretty."

Construction on the two pavilions, which were to be approved Tuesday by Columbia County commissioners, could be completed in October, said Matt Schlachter, the interim director of Construction and Maintenance Services.

Both pavilions will be located off the walkway near the playgrounds, said Community and Leisure Services Director Barry Smith. A 20-by-40-foot pavilion is planned left of the splash pad among trees, while a 20-by-30-foot structure will be located to the rear of the water feature.

"It's just an added amenity," Smith said. "It's a nice thing to have that a lot of playgrounds don't have."

Each will be equipped with picnic tables, benches, ceiling fans and lighting, Smith said. The larger pavilion will become available for renting.

"It'll be larger, and we can accommodate more picnic tables," he said. "When it's not rented, it can be used by leisure patrons."

The current picnic pavilion, a 20-by-40-foot structure that opened to the public in March, is situated between the two playgrounds.

The popularity of that pavilion created the need for more covered areas, Smith said.

Boner said there have been some disagreements with people wanting to use the covered pavilion when it's already occupied.

"The thought is to possibly only allow one to be designated as a rental, and then the others would be on a first-come, first-served basis," she said.

The cost of the pavilions is expected to be $83,700, with funding coming from the special purpose local option sales tax.

The addition of a parking lot near the new features might not be far behind.

Construction on the parking lot, with at least 90 spaces, could be completed by the first of the year, Schlachter said. It would be accessed by a road just past the drop-off area at the library.

"It'll get the patrons down there right at the facility they're trying to use," he said.

Boner added that many people living near the library frequent the pavilion area.

The current pavilion is rented at least once each weekend for children's birthday parties, she said.