Corps looks at new ways of managing Lanier parks

BUFORD - Budget concerns could soon lead to new ways of managing several parks at Lake Lanier which are now operated by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers.

The federal agency is looking at whether it can continue to operate all its recreational areas, including parks.

Tim Rainey, the agency's operations project manager at Lake Lanier, said officials are exploring the idea of partnering with other organizations to manage parks that might otherwise close.

Under one scenario, the corps would develop a "cooperative management" agreement with a nonprofit organization and then lease a park or a number of parks to the organization.