City of Albany to receive $6.6 million in grants for recreation improvements
From staff reports
ATLANTA — Gov. Brian P. Kemp has made preliminary grant awards totaling more than $225 million for 142 qualified projects that improve neighborhood assets like parks, recreation facilities, sidewalks, and healthy food access in communities all across the state disproportionately impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic.
The city of Albany and other surrounding communities will benefit from the grants that the governor said were awarded using a “bottoms-up approach.” The Albany Parks and Recreation Department will receive $2.2 million for construction of two covered, outdoor basketball courts on the Carver Gym site, $2.2 million for its Henderson Gym project and $2.2 million for the Kalmon Malone Park project.
“With our partners on both the local and state levels, we’ve prioritized helping Georgia’s communities further recover from the pandemic with a bottom-up approach,” Kemp said. “As the first in the nation to re-open our economy, we were fortunate to lead the nation in the recovery while fighting for both lives and livelihoods. Today, we’re investing these funds to see that recovery continue, and I want to thank our partners for helping us make that possible.”
The program funds will be allotted to local units of government, counties, or nonprofits to utilize in improving or maintaining recreational facilities in Qualified Census Tracts or for repair or maintenance due to significantly greater use of public facilities during the pandemic.
“These grants are crucial for the enhancement of recreational facilities in rural, southwest Georgia,” Rep. Gerald Greene, R-Cuthbert, said. “They are an investment in children from across our communities, who will be able to benefit from these park improvements. I want to thank Gov. Kemp and all those involved in making these developments happen.”
Among the other regional entities that received grants were the city of Arlington, which received $2.2 million for improvements to the city’s Arlington Multipurpose Park, and the city of Damascus, which will receive $579,811.10 for improvements to its city park. The Camilla Housing Authority will receive $2.2 million for development of a new park, while the city of Bainbridge is slated to receive the same amount for construction of a multipurpose trail originating at River Chase Drive.
“I am so very proud to be a part of the ARPA grants coming to the 13th Senate District,” state Sen. Carden Summers, R-Cordele, said. “These much-needed grants are designed to improve the quality of life of all citizens in south Georgia. A special thank you to all the city and county people that worked behind the scenes to help make these funds available.”
The Moultrie-Colquitt County Parks and Recreation Authority will receive $1,847,434.05 to improve its William Bryant Park Complex, and Ben Hill County has been awarded $740,309.90 for construction of a new recreation complex.
“These grants for local improvements are an investment in the future of our communities,” state Rep. Leesa Hagan, R-Fitzgerald, said. “By providing funds for infrastructure and development projects, our lives are enhanced, and we are better able to attract economic growth. They will be a catalyst for positive change in our neighborhoods, creating a ripple effect that will benefit our residents for years to come.
“I’m grateful to Gov. Kemp for awarding these funds to Ben Hill County to improve areas where we, especially our children, gather together as a community.”
Full project summaries can be found at https://opb.georgia.gov/awarded-grants.
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