EFFINGHAM Co., Ga. (WSAV) – Effingham County is stepping up to the plate when it comes to park upgrades. From pickleball courts to splash pads, they're covering all the bases to create a space residents can enjoy. This is great news for those who love to walk or need a break from their screens. From upgraded playgrounds to miles of walking trails, these upgrades are setting a new standard for recreation. With the help of a SPLOST penny sales tax, each of the 12 parks in the county will receive some sort of upgrade. One upgrade example includes an expansion of Clarence Morgan Park, with the addition of splash pads and a turf field. This project has been in the making for 18 months, and parks will begin construction as early as this month and span out until 2026. The huge project comes after a strong positive turnout from the county's first upgrade on Clarence Morgan Park. "I drive past the park every single day, and it is packed," said Tim Callanan, the Effingham County manager. "You can’t get any more people on the playground; people are always on the baseball fields and walking trails. It's encouraging to see. Those folks didn’t have the opportunity before this park was built and now, we are giving them the opportunity to get out of the house, put the screens down, and get some exercise and socialize with all the other kids." Due to size, the cost ranges for each park. For example, the price for Baker Lake Park is over $3 million, but smaller parks will not need as large of funds. The total cost of all park upgrades has not been determined yet. Baker Lake Park adds amenities such as a dog park, and a paddle boat launch. 3 Georgia State Parks introduce colorblind-adapting glasses "We got one park that is about to start going under construction. It's Baker Park in Springfield... We are about to reward at the Jan. 21 meeting. That will start construction in the winter," explained Callanan. Other parks will look to be rewarded for construction in early summer. Clarence Morgan Park will be in late summer; the county says that is because the park is a much bigger project. In addition, plans are underway for a brand-new park at a 250-acre reservoir in Eden, which will include fishing piers, boat launches and a swimming beach in future phases. Officials shared with WSAV that residents will be shocked about this, due to its location being hidden in plain sight with this beautiful reservoir. The park has not officially been named yet; officials right now are nicknaming it "Atlas." Atlas won't see construction begin until 2026 because the county is starting from scratch on this park, and it's not just getting an upgrade. "The park, it will be at the corner of Sandhill Road and Highway 80. It's convenient for folks coming into Effingham because of the proximity to Highway 80 and Hyundai Plant," said Callanan. Kids at play are also in luck in Effingham County. Every single playground is going to get updated. The county aims to make them as inclusive as they can, with one park having an all-inclusive playground. Officials are also confident due to studies that this pickleball craze is here to stay. In the first batch of park upgrades, the county will be adding seven courts: four in Baker Lake Park and three in Meldrum. Effingham County is also taking into account the voices of its residents. "Walking trails, I will say is the thing that surprised us the most. Because when we did a survey with all the residents, we figured we'd hear we need more baseball fields or soccer fields. But it was walking trails that was the highest on the list," Callanan shared. "So, every park that we are doing, even if it's a small park, will have a perimeter walking trail." The county is also constructing a new pathway, Treutlen Trail, which will connect neighborhoods to parks. The paved trail will be 7 miles and connect Guyton's downtown to three parks, an exciting perk for bicyclists. Officials share with WSAV that if they have to phase out these parks to afford them, they will rather wait to have the park done correctly than cut corners and not meet their standards. Other park plans: