New PRT Office under construction at South Cove

Soon the Parks, Recreation and Tourism Department for Oconee County moves to a new office. “We are building a new office at South Cove. It will be right in the day use area next to the playground. We are moving PRT Administration, so when folks have to come pay bills or get information, it will now be more centrally located in the county.” Oconee County Parks, Recreation and Tourism executive director Phil Shirley says the new building was necessitated by storm damage. “We unfortunately experienced some water damage about two and half years ago and had to make a decision of putting money in an old office or build a new one. We were able to build a new one.” County crews are doing the work, continues Shirley. “What is really cool about this building is that we are building it ourselves. The Facilities Division for the county is actually building 99% of this building.” Only the roof and gutters were contracted out. Shirley anticipates that the new facility will open in October with an official grand opening next spring to coincide with the new recreation season.