SPRINGFIELD, Ga. — Effingham County is moving forward with an $8.7 million investment to renovate three community parks, part of a broader effort to bring all county recreation spaces up to a consistent, modern standard modeled after the Clarence E. Morgan Complex.

County Manager Tim Callanan said the upgrades to Pineora Community, Clyo Community and Meldrim Memorial parks represent the next phase in a long-term plan to rebuild parks across the county to that level. The contracts for the renovations were awarded to Newnan-based PlaySouth Playground Creators.

The initiative began with improvements at the Clarence E. Morgan Complex, followed by upgrades at McCall Park and Baker Community Park. The three parks, Pineora, Clyo and Meldrim, are the fourth through sixth in the plan. After that, Callanan said, the county will continue with Sand Hill Park and is looking to purchase additional property on the south side for new parks. 

“We really wanted to start rebuilding these parks and bring them to an equal standard,” Callanan said. “All existing parks are going to be brought up to this standard and, more importantly, maintained at that standard.”

The latest projects build on momentum from Baker Community Park, which reopened in January following nearly a year of renovations. The project included a new age-specific playground with safety surfacing, expanded amenities such as pickleball courts and a dog park, and upgrades to trails, parking and waterfront access.

“We’ve never seen such a massive outpouring of support for a project that we’ve completed,” Callanan said. “It really gives you the encouragement to keep going.”

Pineora to anchor next phase of upgrades

Pineora Community Park in Guyton, with a $5.568 million investment, represents the largest of the three projects and will serve as a centerpiece of the county’s next round of improvements.

Plans call for significant upgrades to existing amenities, including multiple baseball fields with new lighting, improved fencing and enhanced playing surfaces. A former softball area will be converted back into a baseball field, while a new dog park will be constructed elsewhere on the property.

The park will also feature expanded paved parking, upgraded restroom and concession facilities, and a “massive” playground renovation.

A key addition will be an extensive trail system, including both paved walking paths and more primitive trails through wooded areas. County officials also plan to connect the park to the nearby Treutlen Trail, part of the Georgia Hi-Lo Trail network.

A disc golf course is also planned for a later phase.

While construction timelines can shift, Callanan said Pineora could be completed by late fall, though some elements may extend into early next year.

Clyo upgrades target community needs

At Clyo Community Park, where the county is investing $2.262 million, the focus is on comprehensive rehabilitation of existing facilities.

Upgrades will include improvements to pavilions, playgrounds, basketball courts and baseball fields, along with new lighting, fencing and paved parking.

Plans also call for the addition of a walking trail around the park’s perimeter and renovations to the existing community center — a component that could extend the construction timeline slightly beyond the other projects.

Meldrim project focuses on targeted improvements

Meldrim Memorial Park, with an $879,000 investment, will receive a more targeted set of upgrades, though Callanan said the improvements will still significantly enhance the space.

The park — originally built as a memorial to families lost in a tanker train accident along the Ogeechee River — will see the addition of a new basketball court, replacement of its tennis court with three pickleball courts, and upgraded restroom and pavilion facilities.

A walking trail will also be added, and a new playground has already been installed to replace outdated equipment.

“We’re going to pack a lot into that little piece of land,” Callanan said.

A consistent standard across the county

Across all three parks, the county is emphasizing consistency in design and quality, building on features introduced in earlier projects such as modern playground equipment, improved safety surfaces and expanded amenities.

“We want to make it so it doesn’t matter where in the county you are, what park you go to — the quality is going to be the same,” Callanan said.

That approach, he said, is already paying off.

At McCall Park in Rincon, which was renovated about three years ago, usage has surged.

“It’s packed every time I drive by,” Callanan said. “There are kids on the baseball field, people on the walking trail — the playground is standing room only.”

The increase in activity has reinforced the importance of investing in recreation, he added.

“It makes you think — what were these kids doing before? What options did parents have? They were very limited.”

Funded through SPLOST, with more to come

The park improvements are being funded primarily through the county’s Special Purpose Local Option Sales Tax (SPLOST), with parks and roads representing the largest portions of that funding.

County leaders have also set aside additional funds to account for rising construction costs and ensure projects can be completed as promised.

Looking ahead, more park projects are already in the pipeline.

Plans include additional work at Sand Hill Park, a second phase of development at the Clarence E. Morgan Complex — potentially featuring multipurpose fields and a splash pad — and a large-scale project at the Atlas Reservoir site.

That project, located off Highway 80 in Guyton, could eventually include walking trails, boat launches and a 16-court pickleball complex on more than 600 acres of land.

For Callanan, the work represents an ongoing commitment rather than a one-time investment.

“It’s going to be non-stop,” he said.