If you owned the property commonly referred to as the former Golf and Gardens on Augusta's downtown riverfront, it's likely you'd be in trouble with the city.
You'd probably be getting warnings and letters and possibly fines for the unsightly property overgrown with vegetation.
It has become a blighted area.
It's time something was done.
Thankfully, a group of civic-minded volunteers known as Growing Augusta the GreenWay has volunteered to cut the grass and weeds and other vegetation free of charge, using private equipment, beginning at 8:15 a.m. Saturday, June 6.
All they need is permission to enter the gated property.
It may take the proverbial act of Congress to even get that done. While the state attorney general's office seems to be clearing the way from the state's standpoint, the cleanup group also needs permission from the Georgia Golf Hall of Fame -- the land is still controlled by the hall, which has essentially abandoned it due to financial troubles. But its board doesn't meet again until June 25.
By then, the eyesore will be even more overgrown -- and will have made that many more eyes sore.
The property's owners have been an extremely poor neighbor in this instance -- the kind of negligent neighbor you turn in to the city for code violations.
The city of Augusta had to tussle for nearly half a year to get clearance to maintain the property for a time last year, before even the city couldn't afford it.
The least that folks can do now is ease the way for volunteers to get in and do the work. For free.
Growing Augusta's leader, Anthony Esposito, has assured all concerned that volunteers will sign liability wavers, so risk shouldn't be a problem.
He's also politely asked the Golf Hall of Fame board to meet by phone in order to approve the volunteer work. We hope they do.
A sincere attempt to help should never be turned down -- especially when it's both needed and free of charge.
We realize the Golf Hall of Fame had much of its finances disappear when the state couldn't afford to invest in the facility anymore. But in allowing the property to become blighted, the Golf Hall of Fame has become "that neighbor."
It should welcome some help with open arms.
The Augusta Chronicle ©2010 Morris Communications, LLC. All Rights Reserved.
Every once in awhile we read a good article from The ACES; hopefully, this one will create positive results. A public park for the benefit of challenged children might be a project the City Council might wish to consider; and a declaration of eminent domain might be the action that could bring this problem to full resolution. :-) GGpap
The "Hall of Fame" has been a political joke since it's inception. It seems the joke never ends.
Eminent domain was what created this Disney-like Jungle Land. The state owns it and should be responsible for keeping it groomed. A home owner can be given a ticket for not mowing the lawn. Surely, there is an ordinance or two being violated. The logical solution is to open the gates and create a public park since it appears the stadium is on hold. Those private individuals wanting to help should be utilized, but the county has to assume maintenance eventually.
To have ever allowed these gardens--right next to a RIVER--to perish during the drought and then to have abandoned them to weeds and nuisance shrubs is criminal neglect. Augusta's motto: "Don't just do something, stand there." I commend Mr. Esposito and his friends for even attempting to do something positive despite the steaming dogpile of passive-aggressive politicians blocking their way.
Look at the positive possibilities - this joint, left growing, would make the most awesome haunted house in the CSRA. Party on Hall of Fame!
I would think the Augusta Nationals would buy the Golf and Gardens, to eliminate the embarrassment to Professional Golf. Breaking news for June 6th Sheriff deputy guards the weeds.
The Golf and Gardens....another wasteful, failed project eating up taxpayer funds brought to you by the same "group" of money men who want to bring us the TEE center and baseball stadium. They wanted a Golf Hall of Fame. They convinced everyone, even the state. We used eminent domain and taxpayer money to grab private property. Then the stupid fools discover they can't call it the Golf Hall of Fame because the real Golf Hall of Fame was already up and running down in Florida. Ooops, our bad. Okay, here taxpayers. Please take this piece of crap and pay for it's upkeep. Oh wait. We've got these other projects called a TEE center and a baseball stadium we would like for you taxpayers to finance for us. If most people get bit by a dog three or four times they either kill the dog or at least stay the heck away from it. Apparently we RC taxpayers are just more stupid than most people. Why was the Golf Hall of Fame ever started? Look at who owns most of the property around that area. Who sold us this abysmal failure? They same person who is selling us the TEE center. Who does this person represent? The same person who owns most of that property. WAKE UP PEOPLE!!! It's your money.