Commission clears county to seek DNR and Georgia Trails grants for Half Moon Pier and Susan King Taylor park improvements

The Liberty County Board of Commissioners voted to authorize county staff to prepare grant pre-applications and to combine several parcels as part of two waterfront and park projects: Half Moon Pier and Susan King Taylor Freedom Park (formerly referenced as Jones Creek Pavilion).

Planning and public works staff described two grant opportunities that require pre-application or recombined property ownership to improve permitting and grant competitiveness. For the Half Moon Pier site, staff said a Georgia Trails grant pre-application is due in November and could provide up to $3 million for pier and related work; staff asked for permission to recombine four lots into a single parcel to clean up title and simplify permitting. The board voted to give staff permission to proceed with the lot recombination and to bring required legal paperwork to record the single parcel.

Separately, staff presented a master plan for Susan King Taylor Freedom Park that includes an elevated wetland walking trail (estimate approximately $1.4 million) and a fishing pier with a kayak launch (estimate approximately $1.3 million). Staff said the Department of Natural Resources’ Outdoor Stewardship program accepts pre-applications with projects up to $3 million. County staff asked the board to authorize submission of a pre-application and recommended the county offer a 30% local match (above the program minimum of 25%) to improve scoring; commissioners approved moving forward and asked staff to prepare a letter of support from the chairman.

Staff also reported a $25,000 award from the Georgia Power Foundation toward the park; bids for the perimeter walking trail perimeter came in at about $266,000 against a $244,000 budget and will be evaluated before contract award. Commissioners discussed boat-trailer turning/parking accommodations at the pier and agreed the designs allow limited trailer access but not full large-boat turning.

Votes recorded: the board approved the lot recombination permission and gave staff authority to submit the grant pre-applications and to seek the chairman’s letter of support. The board directed staff to return with formal contract and funding allocations before any construction contract is executed.