Macon was historically made to be a "city in a park," so
building up our public spaces and programs is in our DNA. The
Macon-Bibb County (MBC) Department of Parks and Recreation
is anchored today by a presence of promos, logos, press coverage,
parks, and passionate people working as employees and as citizens
enjoying the department's programs and facilities.
The department's humble beginnings have transformed into
its current broad capacity. According to information provided
by MBC Parks and Recreation director Robert Walker Jr., it was
established in 1911 as the Macon Playground Association.
This organization evolved into what you might recognize
as a parks and recreation department today, but until the 2014
merger of the City of Macon and Bibb County government, the
Recreation Department was part of the county while the Parks
and Beautification Department was housed in the city. Like other
aspects of Macon-Bibb's consolidation, the transition created a
sense of unity that has turned into the current comprehensive entity
citizens know today.
The guiding mission and central philosophy of MBC Parks
and Recreation is "building healthy communities through people,
parks, and programs," showing how broadly they seek to serve all
Maconites in their responsibilities.
COUNTY RECREATION:
BUILDING A BETTER MACON THROUGH PEOPLE, PARKS, AND PROGRAMS
BY CLARENCE W. THOMAS JR. | PHOTOGRAPHY BY MIKE YOUNG
Macon citizens are getting a good return on their investment through the Macon-Bibb County Department
of Parks and Recreation. The payoff ? Fun, fitness, and enrichment now and for the foreseeable future.
72 maconmagazine.com | APRIL/MAY 2023
