About Richmond County, GA

If you've been following this story, you know that the Downtown Development Authority has been considering parking meters for an area on Broad Street in Downtown Augusta, GA. There has been heated debate as to whether this would help or hinder the businesses located there. Some felt that the increase in traffic turnover would improve the number of patrons. Others felt it would drive patrons away who weren't willing to pay 50 cents to a dollar an hour to park. Yesterday the Downtown Development Authority annouced that parking meters for downtown Augusta are no longer being considered, but stronger enforcement of current parking limits is now in the works. Stay tuned for further updates!

Feel free to visit me at www.MoveToAugusta.com

Spring in Augusta GA will be here before we know it and so will the Masters Tournament. Both are famous for their azaleas. This pic was taken a couple of years ago on the campus of Augusta State University, located in downtown Augusta. Here's to warmer temperatures and bright sunshiny days!

Don't forget to visit me at www.MoveToAugusta.com!

Let me start by saying that the economy has hit everybody hard. Some areas have been harder hit than others, and it's starting to trickle down into areas other than housing. Florida for one has seen foreclosures turn into less tax money and fewer students as the parents move to other areas or in with family. They've gone so far in some areas as to ask parents to fill in as janitors and cafeteria workers because of decreased funding.

Fast forward to Augusta, Georgia. The Richmond County School Board Vice President has recently suggested that a 4-day school week be considered for the rest of this school year. His reasoning behind the immediate start is to use the remainder of the school year as a test run. His logic? He hopes to offset funding cuts and extra furlough days. His plan is to extend the current school day by approximately 2 hours, resulting in a savings of $4300 per week.

At what price? I know from personal experience that my 2 children are barely able to make it from 8:30 to 3:30 everyday before their energy levels and attention spans are spent. And they still have an additional hour or so of homework to complete. Add another hour and forty-five minutes into their school day and you've added more stress as more information is crammed into a day. This, in my opinion, then equals students who aren't as well educated. What long term implications does this have? Lastly, parents of younger children who may already be working paycheck to paycheck will now have to find a way to pay for daycare.

Please, share your opinion!

Don't forget to visit me at www.MoveToAugusta.com!

I've lived in the Augusta, Georgia area for the past 12 years and am continually amazed at all the great things this city has to offer its residents and visitors. It's truly a great place to live and raise a family. Here are some places you can't afford to miss!

• The Augusta National Golf Course - See if you can get your hands on Practice Rounds tickets or tournament badges, and don't forget to bring your camera! The Masters Tournament is held the 2nd full week of April each year. There is a lottery for the Practice Round tickets - if you're interested, visit http://www.masters.com/en_US/about/ticket.html for details.
• Clarks Hill Lake - Located between Evans and Lincolnton, GA, Clarks Hill Lake is one of the Southeast's largest and most popular public recreation lakes. At just over 71,000 acres, there's plenty of room for boating, skiing, tubing, jet skiing, and striper fishing. The lake has also just returned to full pool stage after being hit hard by a drought for the last several years.
• The Augusta Canal - The original tow path is still in use by bikers, walkers, and birdwatchers. I like to park at the Lock and Dam and enjoy the walk back in towards downtown. You can also canoe, kayak, or relax on a guided tour aboard a replica canal cargo boat. For tour reservations, visit www.augustacanal.com

• Broad Street - Downtown Augusta - Parking is still FREE, so find a spot and enjoy the walk. There are great art galleries, cafes, antique stores, and a bakery. My 2 favorite spots are Merry's Trash and Treasures and the Pizza Joint.

• The Greeneway - Ok, technically this is N. Augusta, SC, but's it's a short 5 minute drive over the Savannah River. Part of the rails to trails program, the paved trail is over 7 miles long and meanders in part along the scenic Savannah River. There's also a disc golf course located here.
• The Riverwalk - located on the Savannah River in Downtown Augusta, you can't ask for more scenic views. You can enjoy a stroll along the river, a concert at the Jessye Norman ampitheater, or a close up look at science and physics in Fort Discovery. With more than 250 exhibits, there's something for kids of ALL ages!

• Columbia County Library - located at Evans town center, the library itself is a fantastic resource, but there's also a pond behind the library with a .3 mile paved walking track and an ampitheater where family friendly movies are shown and concerts are held.

Oh, and I've got LOTS of photos! Check out http://www.flickr.com/photos/augustagaliving/collections/72157618799167886/

In December, the Downtown Development Authority introduced a plan that would charge for parking in 1,000 spaces along Broad Street (the main thoroughfare through Downtown Augusta GA). The section of Broad Street in question is home to some trendy cafes, art galleries, bars and antique shops. There are strong arguments both for and against the installation of parking meters.

Proponents say this will create better turnover of parking spaces so more patrons can park near stores and not give up shopping when they can't find spaces. Currently many of the spaces are occupied by employees who aren't provided alternate parking options.

Opposition includes concerns that the $1 per hour charge is too steep, fears that the meters would drive away patrons and questions about where some downtown residents and workers would find alternative parking spaces.

The downtown Augusta area has been going through quite a bit of revitalization over the past few years. I think in order to continue this trend, more thought needs to be put into the specifics before this plan is carved in stone. I'm very curious to see how many of you have dealt with a similar issue and how it was successfully resolved. What are your thoughts?