Augusta Seeks Private Partner for South Augusta Water Park After Setting Aside $5M

Augusta commissioners push forward with a water park plan for South Augusta. They want a private company to contribute funds and manage operations. The city put aside $5 million in taxpayer dollars to launch this project.

Destination Augusta has collected proposals. Voters approved that $5 million through SPLOST back in 2021.

This project sits in early planning stages. No location has been chosen. No timeline exists yet. Augusta won't construct the facility by itself.

Frank Howard lives near Diamond Lakes Park and has pressed commissioners about this for months. "South Augusta is hungry, we are hungry for some change, for some improvement, for something coming to South Augusta," Howard said, per WRDW.

Melvin Ivey lives in the area, too. He wants clear answers about where things stand. "We have voted on it twice, and no one has said anything. No one has presented any plans or anything. I want to know what's going on," Ivey said.

Diamond Lakes Park would work best, Ivey thinks. The site covers more than 250 acres. "I think Diamond Lakes is the ideal location," Ivey said. "Diamond Lakes is over 250 acres, and all you need is depending on the size."

Both men stressed that this facility must serve everyone. "If you gonna bring water park over here, bring a water park that's going to be satisfactory to everybody in South Augusta. Not only South Augusta, but the whole Richmond County," Howard said.

Water park plans move forward while Diamond Lakes Park gets three shaded areas built right now. Howard showed off these improvements at the park. He called the additions "much better" and "only the beginning."