“We’re meeting people at the speed of life.” 

The words spoken met the calmness of the people as they sat or stood among the trees near a soon-to-be more accessible lake in South Macon-Bibb. Despite nearby roads and houses, the only sounds were that of the cicadas and the discussions about the potential of the new park to be a gathering place for the neighborhood and community.  

“This area has been a significant part of our community for generations, and what we’re doing here is bringing it up to a space that more and more people can enjoy,” Macon-Bibb Director of Planning and Public Places Alex Morrison told the assembled group of 20 community leaders and partners. “And this space can be a place of relaxation and respite and communing with nature.” 

They were gathered to mark the beginning of a major improvement project for Cliffview Lake Park, located between Cliffview Drive, Bacon Street, Rutherford Avenue, Antioch Road, and Robert Henry Street. To watch the full groundbreaking ceremony, visit the Macon-Bibb County Facebook page at www.facebook.com/maconbibbcounty. 

“Thank you to everyone involved in taking another step forward in the efforts to reinvest and strengthen this area,” said District 2 Commissioner Paul Bronson. “This is just the beginning of a better future for the residents here in South Macon.” 

The improvement to Cliffview Lake Park is funded by the voter-approved Special Purpose Local Option Sales Tax (SPLOST) and includes a new pavilion, trails, docks on the lake, and a complete resurfacing of Cliffview Drive and Bacon Street. It is also a project that is part of a larger strategy to help strengthen and improve the neighborhood around Houston Avenue. 

“Providing amenities for all of our citizens, no matter where live, whatever their zip code, is something we really value in Macon-Bibb County,” added Morrison, pointing out Cliffview Lake Park was one of the first projects he was given when he took on his role. “We want to make sure all people have access to high-quality public spaces, and that they have access to recreation.” 

The focus on this area is a joint effort by Macon-Bibb County and its departments, private contractors, First Choice Primary Care, Macon Area Habitat for Humanity, and more. In mid-April, crews tore down a blighted and abandoned commercial building on Houston Avenue as part of the ongoing #BlightFight. More than 150 blighted structures have been removed around Houston Avenue – and more than 700 from the entire county – in just a little more than three years.   

“The Blight Fight is about more than just demolition…it’s about strengthening neighborhoods, which is why we’re investing in major improvement projects like Cliffview Lake Park,” said Mayor Lester Miller. 

First Choice Primary Care – thanks to investments from Macon-Bibb’s American Rescue Plan (ARP) funds, the Peyton Anderson Foundation, and more – is opening a healthcare facility and pharmacy nearby to better serve families in the area. 

“Our Board has had a longstanding commitment to this neighborhood, but we are now, with support from the County and other funders, we are building a new primary care medical facility,” said Katherine McCleod, CEO of First Choice Primary Care. “We’ll be able to provide primary care to anyone, regardless of their ability to pay. We will also have a pharmacy that will be open to anyone, and you may notice there are no other pharmacies in this area of town.” 

In the past year, Macon-Bibb opened the new Frankie E. Lewis Park which includes a playground, pavilion, trail, and basketball courts…and replaces several blighted structures that were there previously. Just starting is the development of a new Cliffview Lake Park, which will provide the community a place to fish, walk trails through the woods, and more. Both projects are funded by the voter-approved Special Purpose Local Option Sales Tax. 

“We must be purposeful and intentional about strengthening our neighborhoods, and I’m proud of the work being done here along Houston Avenue to remove the blight and begin building it all back up,” said Mayor Miller. 

An additional $500,000 in ARP funds – which was matched by the Peyton Anderson Foundation – was provided to Habitat for Humanity to take the newly created empty lots in nearby Lynmore Estates, build new homes, and help families become strong homeowners. The mortgage payments from those homes will create a revolving fund that would help build new homes for many years to come. 

“We must leverage all of our resources in our neighborhoods to truly address the needs of our friends and families because it doesn’t matter which side of the county we live in, what happens to one of us…happens to all of us,” adds Mayor Miller. “We are all in this together.”