Parks & Recreation

Notice of Barrington Park Closure

County Awards $550,000 Contract for Continued Revamp of Barrington Park Campsite

The transformation of Barrington Park continues, as the McIntosh County Commission has awarded a $550,000 contract to further develop the popular riverside campsite.

At the recent commission meeting, all five commissioners—Chair Kate Karwacki, Vice Chair Davis Poole, Roger Lotson, Chris Jarriel, and Henderson Hope—were present to approve the contract. The bid was awarded to United Grounds Maintenance Service Inc. of Glennville.

The scope of work includes constructing a new bathhouse with two restrooms and showers for both men and women, along with a park office. The contractor will also install power and lighting throughout the park, clean up and restore the site, and install a well and septic system.

County Manager Patrick Zoucks explained that United Grounds Maintenance Service submitted the only complete bid. “The other bidder only quoted the bathhouse and did not include the electrical work,” Zoucks noted. 

The bid came in within the county’s estimated budget. Zoucks added, “We’ve worked with this company before on the Eulonia Park Walking Path project and were very satisfied with their work.”

Once the notice to proceed is issued, the contractor will have 90 days to complete the job.

Progress Already Underway

Significant progress has already been made on the park’s redevelopment. Roberts Civil Engineering provided the park design and engineering plans. Initial work has included tree clearing (with efforts made to preserve as many trees as possible), earth moving, and road grading. Two vinyl sheet pile retaining walls were installed, followed by retaining walls with proper fill to reduce flood risk during high river levels.

Additional completed improvements include:

• Demolition of the old restrooms

• Installation of fencing around the park perimeter, playground, pavilion, and fishing pier bulkhead

• Construction of a concrete walkway from the pavilion to the parking area

• A new aluminum fishing pier with seating stations

• Installation of water lines to the campsites

• Underground conduit for future installation of electrical transformers, lighting, a security gate, and a pump-out station

Work is ongoing, including:

• Pouring concrete pads for back-in RV sites

• Resurfacing the boat ramp

• Installation of a gazebo pad near the pier

• Construction of a security entrance gate with keypad

• Setup of a gravity-fed pump-out system for RV holding tanks

• Additional lighting, signage, landscaping, parking stops, and graded aggregate base for park roads.

Questions can be answered by contacting the County Annex.