After pleas, Augusta leaders decide to let Diamond Lakes sparkle

AUGUSTA, Ga. (WRDW/WAGT) - Augusta Commission decided Tuesday to move forward with improvements at Diamond Lakes Park.

The decision came after pleas last month from Frank Howard, who gathered nearly 2,000 signatures on a petition seeking the improvements.

He said Tuesday the improvements had been “a long time coming,” and he thanked commissioners for listening to him.

Officials from Augusta’s Parks and Recreation, Central Services and Engineering departments met and came back with a proposal and cost breakdown for improvements at the regional park.

Meeting at the committee level Tuesday – meaning most decisions will still have to go before the full commission – leaders approved the list but struck one item – $200,000 for cameras.

In coming up with the list of proposals, officials said several of the items had already been resolved or could be implemented at a moderate cost.

Parks and Recreation Director Director Tameka Williams said the most costly requested items were additional sidewalk installation near the park entrance and expansion of security cameras across the park.

The total roughly estimated costs for all improvements is $491,000. Currently, $500,000 is set aside for Diamond Lakes improvements in SPLOST 8 tax revenues.

Findings from Augusta’s Parks and Recreation, Central Services and Engineering departments:

• Park hours – The park currently operates from 7 a.m. to 9 p.m., and officials recommended these hours remain unchanged because they’re consistent with other parks’ hours.
• Sidewalk access – The distance from the Manchester subdivision to Willis Foreman Road is about 1.5 miles. To enhance accessibility, it is estimated that 20 ADA-compliant handicap ramps will be needed at various intersections. Due to existing streetlights, the sidewalk should be placed approximately 2 feet from the back of the curb.
• Lighting – All park lights are operational. Repairs were completed in April by Hammett Electric.
• Streetlights – These are owned and maintained by Jefferson Energy. All identified issues have been resolved with no cost incurred by the city.
• Benches – For safety reasons, it is not recommended to place benches along busy park roadways. Instead, officials suggested installing eight to 10 benches strategically around the walking track area.
• Shelters – While shelter additions are not immediately planned, they are recommended for inclusion in future SPLOST funding considerations
• Security cameras – Security cameras are currently located at the community center, library, tennis center and two towers.
• Traffic calming – Two speed humps currently exist on the main park roadway. While effective for speed reduction, additional humps may slow emergency response times.
• Parking lot islands – Adding islands to the parking area near the shelters would reduce the number of available parking spaces — approximately two per island. Given the regional use of the park and the frequency of activities/events, maintaining the current parking capacity was recommended.

The estimated cost breakdown for improvements included:

• Concrete sidewalks – $440,000
• 10 benches ($700 each) — $7,000
• Three shelters ($10,000 each) — $30,000
• Three speed humps ($4,000 each) — $12,000
• One island — $2,000

Commissioner Alvin Mason agreed about the need for speed humps and asked parks and recreation officials to put together a priority list based on the cost breakdown.

Commissioner Wayne Guilfoyle called Diamond Lakes the “signature park” and said usage is “unbelievable.”

Augusta Commission on Tuesday also moved forward with these plans for other parks and recreation facilities:

• Approved design concept plan for Blythe Community Center and Park and continued with preliminary and final design/construction plans. The project will consist of one new tennis court and three new pickleball courts. Lighting is also included in the proposed design.
• Approved design concept plan for Fleming Tennis Center and completed preliminary and final design construction plans. Improvements include cleaning, repairing minor cracking, and resurfacing of 13, seal cost and re-stripe the existing parking lot, remove the existing bathroom building, a new picnic pavilion with ADA restrooms, pressure wash and clean existing fencing, repaint the pro shop building, and replace restroom fixtures
• Approved design concept plan for McBean Park and continued with preliminary and final design/construction plans. The project will consist of one new tennis court, three new pickleball courts, expansion of the existing parking lot by 21 stalls, and a new nine-hole disc golf course. Lighting is also included in the proposed design.
• There was a motion to approve and supplement POND and Company contract to complete preliminary and final construction plans for Dyess Park. Proposed improvements include two basketball courts, six pickleball courts, a stone walking trail, a picnic pavilion with restrooms, an outdoor fitness area, a new community center, new benches, a splash pad, a picnic shelter, a new playground, sidewalks, a tennis court and a bandstand.
• Approved design concept plan for Newman Tennis Center and completes Phase I preliminary and final design construction plans. Phase I will consist of repairing and resurfacing eighteen (18) existing tennis courts, replacing all perimeter fencing with new 10-foot-tall vinyl-oated fencing, repair sidewalks, replace lighting with LED fixtures, improve existing stormwater drainage system, and repair court due to root damages.

Copyright 2025 WRDW/WAGT. All rights reserved.