In the future, those attending events at the Augusta Canal Headgates and Savannah Rapids Pavilion might find it easier to park their vehicles, find a restroom and even buy a snack.
If Columbia County voters approve a 1-cent sales tax on Nov. 4, the long-time renovation project at the headgates and pavilion might be completed by 2012.
Included in the proposed sales tax referendum is a $1.3 million item for phase three of the renovation project at the canal headgates, said Columbia County Community and Leisure Services Director Barry Smith.
"Most of phase three would be reconfiguring the existing parking," Mr. Smith said. "We're basically taking the existing parking, reconfiguring the layout and expanding parking into the woods on a one-acre parcel we added to our lease about two years ago."
Other phase three projects include adding restrooms and a concession stand.
Even if voters approve the 1-cent tax Nov. 4, sales tax revenues to fund the project won't be immediately available.
The headgates renovations are not included in a bond referendum attached to the sales tax referendum to start some projects early.
Sales tax revenue to fund the project likely won't become available until 2011, if the next round starts, Mr. Smith said.
County officials are planning phase two of the renovations, which includes paving a parking lot and constructing an extension of the Evans to Locks Road bike trail around the new parking lot to a pedestrian bridge over the Augusta Canal.
County officials recently negotiated a 50-year lease of a half-acre of neighboring property owned by Martin Marietta Materials Inc. to complete the trail.
Funding for phase two will come from a $750,000 sales tax allotment and a $250,000 state Department of Transportation grant, Mr. Smith said.
At a cost of $1.7 million -- $1.2 million from the sales tax and $500,000 from DOT -- county officials already have completed phase one renovations, which included refurbishing a dance pavilion, barbecue pit, picnic shelter and the Gatekeeper's Cottage.
A separate $600,000 sales tax project to renovate the pavilion also is finished, Mr. Smith said.
"The hardest part is done," he said. "We've just got to get more parking."
Dayton Sherrouse, the Augusta Canal Authority executive director, said he eventually would like to build a storage building near the footbridge for kayaks and canoes but lacks funding to start on the project.
Reach Donnie Fetter at (706) 868-1222, ext. 115, or donnie.fetter@augustachronicle.com.
