Valdosta-Lowndes County Parks & Recreation Authority

Purpose

The Legislative Act creating the Valdosta-Lowndes County Parks & Recreation Authority was approved by Governor Sonny Perdue on March 25, 2008. The purpose of the Valdosta-Lowndes County Parks & Recreation Authority is to provide parks and recreation services throughout Lowndes County. No member of the Authority shall have, directly or indirectly, any financial interest, profit, or benefit in any contract, work, or business of the Authority nor in the sale, lease, or purchase of any property to or from the Authority unless: (a) any interest, profit, or benefit by such member is disclosed in advance to the other members of the Authority and is recorded in the Minutes of the Authority, (b) that no member having any such interest, profit, or benefit may be present during that portion of an Authority meeting when such contract, work, business, sale, lease, or purchase is being discussed, (c) that no member having such interest, profit, or benefit may participate in any decision of the Authority relating to such matter.

Members

The Valdosta-Lowndes County Parks & Recreation Authority shall consist of seven members, with three members to be appointed by a majority vote of the Lowndes County Board of Commissioners, one of whom may be a member of such governing authority; three members to be appointed by a majority vote of the Mayor and City Council of the City of Valdosta, one of whom may be a member of such governing authority; and one member to be appointed by the Lowndes County Board of Commissioners and the Mayor and Council on an alternating basis, first by the Board of Commissioners and then by the Mayor and City Council.  The County Manager for Lowndes County and the City Manager of the City of Valdosta shall be non-voting ex-officio members of the Authority.  After the initial appointments made in 2008, all appointees shall serve a term of three years.  Each July, the Authority shall elect one of its members as Chairperson, Vice-Chairperson, Secretary, and Treasurer or a Secretary-Treasurer, each of whom may be a member or a non-member of the Authority.  Such officers shall serve a term of one year beginning July 1 of each calendar year and ending June 30 of the following calendar year, or until their successors are duly elected and qualified. The members of the Authority shall receive no compensation for their services but shall be reimbursed from any available funds for their actual and necessary expenses incurred in the performance of their duties.

City

  • Stan Rome - Term Expires 06/30/25
  • Reginald Mitchell - Term Expires 06/30/26
  • Alvin Payton, Jr. - Term Expires 06/30/27
  • Timothy McCoppin - Term Expires 06/30/26 *

County

  • Vincent Miller - Term Expires 06/30/25
  • Suzan Garnett - Chairman - Term Expires 06/30/26
  • Bubba Highsmith - Term Expires 06/30/27

* Rotating appointment on an alternating basis.  This was the City's appointment in 2017,  the County's appointment in 2020, the City's appointment 2023, and the County's appointment in 2026.

Ex Officio

  • City Manager Richard Hardy
  • County Manager Paige Dukes

Legal Counsel

  • To Be Determined

Meeting

The Valdosta-Lowndes County Parks & Recreation Authority meets the third Wednesday of each month at 4:30 p.m. at 1901 North Forrest Street.  View the 2024 Meeting schedule.

Interested in Serving

Any City resident interested in serving on the Valdosta-Lowndes County Parks & Recreation Authority should submit a completed General Membership Application and a signed Code of Ethics Form to Teresa Bolden, City Clerk,  located in the City Manager and Mayor's office in City Hall, 216 East Central Avenue, Valdosta, GA 31601. 

More Information

For more information, please contact Teresa Bolden, City Clerk, at (229) 259-3503 or E-mail or contact George Page, Executive Director, Parks & Recreation Authority, at (229) 259-3507 or E-mail or visit the Valdosta-Lowndes County Parks & Recreation website.  

More Information

For more information, contact George Page, Executive Director of Parks and Recreation at (229) 259-3507 or visit the Valdosta-Lowndes County Parks and Recreation Authority website.