Effingham County plans to use its current SPLOST to build the first phase of Atlas Park, a public recreation area planned for a former sand mine near Guyton.
The initial plans include a playground, trails, pavilions, a boat launch and 16 pickleball courts.
The county expects to develop the property in stages. Officials say that approach could make completed sections available for public use while work continues elsewhere on the site.
Longer-term plans feature a 138-acre lake that could support swimming, fishing, boating and other outdoor activities.
Future improvements could also add access for canoes, kayaks and paddleboards.
Those later projects are not assured. Effingham County has proposed including additional Atlas Park work in its next SPLOST program, so funding for those phases would depend on voter approval.
Atlas Park is among several projects receiving money from the county’s current voter-approved SPLOST.
Georgia’s SPLOST is a 1% local sales tax designated for capital projects, including parks, roads and public safety facilities.
Local governments identify projects before voters decide on the tax in a referendum. If approved, the tax is collected for a set period or until it reaches a specified revenue limit.
Yolonda Harris
News Now Georgia
