Columbia County commissioners unanimously agreed Tuesday night to pursue a public-private partnership with the Family Y for the construction of a facility at Blanchard Woods, which will become the county's largest park.

The 5-0 vote, which followed a motion by Commissioner Steve Brown, didn't come without some questioning by recreation officials and county residents.

"Folks, don't be fooled," said Robert Butler, who has served as a member of the county's recreation board. "The Y will come into Columbia County even if they don't get free land. ... It (a county partnership with the Y) will flat give up taxpayer property to a private organization."

County resident Carl Bethune also voiced concerns.

"To me, this building here is going to be on a flat piece of ground that could be used for a soccer field," he told commissioners.

Dan McConnell, the chief executive officer for the Augusta Family Y, told commissioners the organization plans to offer something at Blanchard Woods similar to what is now at its Wheeler Road location, with an aquatic center, a gym, an aerobics studio and outside playground areas. He said donated land would be needed to make such a site a possibility.

"We don't want to come in and create a controversy,'' he said. "That's not what the YMCA is about.''

Commission Chairman Ron Cross said a Family Y site at the park will not change the county's scope for Blanchard Woods and won't delay the county's work there.

County officials said the land, about 14 acres of the park's total 150, would be leased to the Family Y if an agreement is approved.

Reach Preston Sparks at 868-1222, ext. 115 or preston.sparks@augustachronicle.com.