Hampton Georgia

4 CIVIL AND MUNICIPAL VOLUME 4, ISSUE 12 Its charm extends beyond its roots, drawing both residents and businesses with a promise of warmth and opportunity. Under the astute leadership of Mayor Ann Tarpley, Hampton’s delicate balance of unique features and ongoing projects gives it a lively flow of urban productivity, all while preserving that small-town feel. Balancing Growth with Community Character Hampton’s picturesque surroundings feature many amenities that residents take pride in, most notably McBrayer Park. This vibrant park features a splash pad, skateboard park, and various courts for basketball, tennis, and pickleball. Another gem is the East Hampton Community Park, a forthcoming addition with walking trails, play areas, and a gazebo, promising a serene space for the community. What makes Hampton so unique is its commitment to maintaining its wholesome aesthetic and spirit. “We love being a quaint community, but we understand that growth is inevitable,” says Mayor Tarpley, explaining that as Hampton experiences commercial and residential growth, the intention is to ensure that every development is done the “Hampton way.” As Hampton expands, so too do the needs of its residents, and one of the easily overlooked but crucial contributors to its growth is the consistent focus on maintaining the city’s infrastructural foundation. Hampton’s commitment to infrastructure shines through various projects. A focal point is the Thompson Creek water outfall project, addressing water flow and sewer system enhancements. Several key areas in the city have been marked for significant sewer and pump station upgrades, which will be completed in connection with a master plan to improve the entire city’s stormwater capabilities. Beyond stormwater upgrades, the city also conducts and manages routine street improvement and repaving projects. Its most recent projects involve the McDonough Street and West Main Street Projects, outfitting both corridors with new pavement and lighting. In the near future, there will also be a focus on the downtown area from Highway 20 to Amah Lee. So, as you can see, a lot is happening at Hampton’s most foundational level, and to keep it steadily moving, city leadership taps into funding from multiple sources. “We have a wonderful team that applies for our grants, some federal and others on the state level, but some of our money has [also] been allocated towards those projects,” Mayor Tarpley says, revealing that many of these projects are being managed in anticipation for the huge influx of business development that the city has been steadily preparing for. A Beacon of Commercial Opportunity Due to how the landscape of the modern workforce was essentially transformed post-COVID,