GREENE COUNTY
Over the last two years, Greene County has seen a 6.5 percent increase in population with over 20,000 residents now living in the area.
With the recent steady increase in families moving into Lake Country, the Greene County recreation department has seen the number of its participants increase to three times the size it was just a handful of years ago.
Greene County Recreation Department Director Pete O’Neal told the Lake Oconee News that the county took over almost five years ago and that the change has been the biggest facilitator of growth.
“I took over three years ago, and I went back and looked at the records over the past 10 years, and the most we’ve ever had participate in a single year was 480 kids,” O’Neal said. “This past year, we had 1,078 kids participate, and a lot of that is attributed to the county taking over about four years ago. The rec facilities were owned by the city municipalities and the counties, so it was very difficult to get anything done, funding-wise, because you had to get approval from each one of the city councils and county commissioners.”
“Now, it’s a much smoother process to get the funding we need to upgrade our facilities. We were just able to upgrade baseball fields,” O’Neal added. “We just got approved for a million-and-a-half dollars worth of grants to put in new LED lights in all of our outside field lighting, new restrooms for outside areas and new playgrounds. With the growth of our county and the retention rate of our kids, the county taking over has really helped its growth.”
Not only has the additional funding helped the facilities, but it’s also helped widen the variety of sports kids in the county can now play in the fall.
Looking ahead, the rec department will have flag football in the fall for all boys and girls under the age of 12. On top of that, softball and fall baseball will be offered in the coming months as well.
O’Neal acknowledged he’s connected with many youth organizations in the area, and that they are more than willing to help out when necessary.
“We’ve worked really closely with the athletic coordinators and with places like the Boys and Girls Club, Atlas, getting the word out about registrations so we’re making sure kids are getting signed up,” O’Neal said. “We’ve done a better job of informing the public and getting coaches to come out. [A few weeks ago], we had coach Banks from Greene County and coach Stewart from Lake Oconee Academy to do a coaching clinic for our youth coaches, so that they know how to best serve the kids.”
Aside from the increasing numbers of youth athletes in the area, the growth of the rec department helps the growth of both Lake Oconee Academy and Greene County programs.
Most recently, coaches and players from Lake Oconee Academy and Greene County met with youth teams to have a conditioning and coaches clinic.
Lake Oconee Academy Athletic Director Chris Ingle acknowledged how important it is to have a good relationship between the rec department and high schools.
“We’re pouring a lot into our youth sports programs at LOA, but we also want to continue to build a relationship with the Greene County rec department,” Ingle said. “The most exciting part is being able to see both of our student bodies come together and serve the youth community in our rec department, and its growth will benefit both of our programs in the long run.”
An example of the high school attempting to serve the rec department came in the form of a clinic, but it was taught by high school athletes.
Several Titan and Tiger football players came together a few weeks ago and held a conditioning clinic to help teach the youth athletes and coaches the proper way to condition, train and practice.
Greene County Athletic Director Chad Smith wants to make sure his students are giving back to the community and organizations that helped raise them.
“That’s what it’s all about. Seeing them be able to come full-circle of, ‘this is where I came from to look where I’m at now and still growing into what I can become,’” Smith said. “It gives the rec department a feather in their cap because they helped raise the men and women on teams today. Being able to come back so that they can see you’ve succeeded, there’s nothing better.”