$500,000 is going to parks and recreation upgrades, and $2 million is going to technology upgrades.
WARNER ROBINS, Ga. — Whether enjoying the basketball court, the playground or the walking trails, folks can find many uses for a city park.
With hopes to bring more people out and offering more enjoyable spaces, the City of Warner Robins is making upgrades.
On Monday, council members voted to put money into the building at Ferguson Memorial Park. Council documents say the project will cost $113,000. As of Monday, the building was locked to the public and missing roof tiles.
They will fund the project using 2012 SPLOST Funds.
Plus, they had an additional $9 million of unused American Rescue Plan Act and SPLOST 2018 funds. Last Thursday, the council met to reallocate these funds to new projects. Leaders decided to put $500,000 of it into park projects.
“Whether it’s an active play park or it’s a passive park or a program that we might be able to add, it’s so beneficial across the board to everyone involved. It touches everyone. That’s why I enjoy improving the life of our citizens through recreation,” Councilman Keith Lauritsen said.
Councilman Clifford Holmes shared that he’d like to see more development in recreation as well.
“We need a building for recreation, for senior citizens to meet,” he said.
The rest of the $9 million will go to other improvements like updating employee technology. They settled on adding $2 million to that project. The city says its technology is very outdated.
Holmes says they wanted to put a significant amount there because of how quickly technology changes. Plus, he wants to help make employee jobs easier.
“We can’t ask people to do things and don’t provide them with the needs to carry them out,” Holmes shared.
The city also put $500,000 to customer service upgrades, and that same amount into city roads.
“We’re constantly asked about sidewalks, so I mentioned that. Let’s add some sidewalks,” Holmes said.
Lauritsen says he was also proud to put about $1.5 million toward community grants.
“Small business grants or housing grants. Things where we can help the community that has the greatest need,” Lauritsen said.
