When Effingham County Supervisor Tim Callanan drives by McCall Park near Highway 21, he’s proud of the transformation of the old sandy lot.
Callanan said he understands less than $1 million was spent on improvements to the park, which include a multi-purpose sports field, a dog park and a basketball court. A ribbon-cutting ceremony was held to commemorate the 2022 facility upgrades.
“There’s no room for any more people in that park,” Callanan said. “Baseball fields are always used. You say to yourself, ‘What were those people doing before?’ “It drives you to do more.
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Locals such as Rafael Watson use the park to socialize and exercise.
“It’s a nice area,” Watson said. “I need some cardio.”
Effingham County resident Agnes Graham noted the park’s appeal and various amenities.
“The extra fields and dog park are attractive, it has more play space and the park is kept clean,” Graham said.
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Effingham County Park upgrades are just the beginning.
Every park in the county will receive some kind of upgrade. The cost of each project has not yet been determined.
The Clarence E. Morgan complex, one of the county’s most popular parks, will feature a splash pool and multi-use fields.
“We’re going to do seven of them – almost like a stadium [and] One of them will be artificial turf so we can host games,” Callanan said.
The county plans to award bids for Baker Park renovations soon. Upgrades include a dog park, paddle boat launch and pickleball courts.
Callanan said the county must “do everything we can” to ensure all parks meet the standards of Clarence Morgan, a large park that hosts baseball and softball tournaments. Callanan believed Baker Park in Meldrim had not been touched for 20 years, prompting councilors to ensure it was also given a facelift. Improvements include renovating the tennis courts, adding pickleball stripes, and renovating the basketball court and pavilion.
The Truelton Trail will provide a new path for runners, walkers and cyclists. The goal is to connect the trail to neighborhoods like Old Marlowe and then to Pine Tree Park and Sand Hill Park.
The county is also considering building new parks to help support the county’s growing population.
“In order to grow, we really have to expand our park offerings,” Callanan said. “So we’re looking at some properties right now for expansion, and I think people are going to be really excited about that. [about]”.
Latrice Williams is a special correspondent covering Blaine and Effingham counties. She can be reached at lwilliams6@gannett.com
This article originally appeared in the Savannah Morning News: Local Effingham County park to get a facelift
