Peach Jam Basketball Tournament held in neighboring North Augusta, South Carolina which features some of the top high school basketball players and teams across the United States. Parks and recreation Riverwalk Augusta – riverfront park along and on top of the city's levee Augusta Common – green space linking Broad Street to Reynolds Street, with statue of James Oglethorpe Augusta Canal – historic canal with bike/pedestrian path Phinizy Swamp Nature Park – wetlands park with pedestrian/bike paths and boardwalks Diamond Lakes Regional Park – in south Richmond County Brookfield Park – public park featuring a playground, putting green, pedestrian/bike path, and a fountain in which children can play Pendleton King – public park featuring a disc golf course, dog park, amphitheater, bike and running paths, and gardens Law and government In 1995, citizens of Augusta and unincorporated parts of Richmond County voted to consolidate their city and county governments. Citizens of Hephzibah and Blythe, also located in Richmond County, voted against joining in the merger, which took effect January 1, 1996. The unified government consists of a mayor and ten commissioners. Eight commissioners represent single-member districts, while two are elected at-large, each to represent a super district that encompasses half of Augusta-Richmond's population. Law enforcement in Augusta is handled by the Richmond County Sheriff's Office which patrols the main city of Augusta and the unincorporated areas of Hephzibah and Blythe although both of these towns have their own police departments. Prior to consolidation, Augusta had a city police department and the Richmond County sheriff patrolled the unincorporated areas of the county. The consolidation charter deems the sheriff as the chief law enforcement officer of Richmond County. Augusta is one of the few consolidated city-counties in the state that retain the sheriff in a law enforcement capacity. List of mayors See List of mayors of Augusta, Georgia Education Colleges and universities Main campuses Augusta Technical College (state technical college) Augusta University (public research university) Paine College (private, Methodist historically black college) Satellite campuses East Georgia State College (state four-year college), main campus located in Swainsboro Georgia Military College (state funded military college), main campus located in Milledgeville Brenau University (private, not-for-profit, undergraduate and graduate-level higher education), main campus located in Gainesville, Georgia K–12 schools Public K–12 schools in Augusta are managed by the Richmond County School System. The school system contains 36 elementary schools, 10 middle schools, and the following eight