AUGUSTA, Ga. (WJBF) – It’s after Labor Day at Diamond Lakes, but they’re still thinking a waterpark would be a good investment.
“I believe so. I really think that would be a good thing to have is the water park,” said Barbara Roberts.In 2021, Augusta voters approved $5 million in sales tax money to entice a private company into developing the project.“We need something here in Augusta that can bring some type of money over on this side, something for south Augusta,” said Juliette Jacobs.To see if it could work, commissioners will debate spending $79,000 of the sales tax funds to pay for a feasibility study to crunch the numbers.“You would be looking at location, the ease of getting to the actual water park itself, how many people they would expect , the respective income that would expected from it, the respective maintenance costs,” said Augusta City Administrator Tameka Allen.Consultants, however, would not be limited to just looking at a Diamond Lakes location.“They would definitely start at Diamond Lakes but they would also look at other areas if they find that Diamond Lakes may not be a feasible location,” said Allen.The biggest open space at Diamond Lakes is the walking track, and some would not want to see that lost to a waterpark.
“Most people come out for the track and stuff, so anywhere in South Augusta, we got other land areas where there is nothing there, I feel a water park could go,” said Jacobs.A water park has supporters, now city leaders want to hear from consultants on just how feasible is it…