Report on Heritage Park discussions from Oconee County Historical Society

Let's make sure Heritage Park gets done correctly and we do not have another Elder Mill Park shrinkage or shrivel.
Subject: report on Heritage Park discussions



On February 9,  Richard and I met with the Citizen Advisory Committee on Recreation Affairs Subcommittee on the History Village at Heritage Park. Also present were representatives from the Cultural & tourism committee, Economic Development and this Historical Society. There were 5 items of discussion that we were asked to get input on from our various groups.  Those items were the (1) types of historical structures to be included (2) Where to put them in the area of the park designated for the History Village (3) The current Park Master plan (specifically 'Do we need a pond?' (4) What time period should the village cover if any
(5) Funding options
We would like your input on these items before our next meeting the end of March.  You can e-mail comments to me or come to our next meeting at OCAF March 15th.
Meeting with Rec. Department on Heritage Park Feb 9
Attendance from Historical Society:  Richard Pendergrass and Peggy Sommer
Meeting with rec. department: 
Topics discussed were:
  1. Types of historical structures. 
                  Richard shared his list.  See attachment.
                  County does have working grist mill in storage.
                  Specifically discussed a general store PO and the voting booth (one offered to Wm White is off of 78  (they had photos))
                  Lisa had looked at what some other sites had and mentioned a church
  1. Location of structures within the village area:
                        We looked at the concept map, discussed a village grid vs a rural arrangement,  (one suggestion here was that it might be possible to have a rural area and a town (based on old Watkinsville or Eastville) using landscaping to divide the 2
                        The consensus seemed to be that it would be good to base whatever we do on what Oconee County was like not some generic idea of a town of x time period
  1. Master Park Pond Plan:  Do we want one?
                  Mike Streetman discussed the problems with one.
  1. Time period:  Richard suggested 1800 – 1930  It was agreed that some time period would be a useful part of the guidelines for items to be accepted.
  1. Funding Options:  Other than the fact that there are little tax dollars available right now we didn't get into this one much.  The need for nearby restrooms and other minimum infrastructure was also discussed.  So was the need for volunteers to help with program and use of the structures.

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