Columbus-Lowndes Recreation Authority Director Greg Lewis said the new softball field at the Plum Grove Community Center has been a long time coming.
Lewis said the field, which is the latest addition to the community center on West Minnie Vaughn Road in southern Lowndes County, has been in the works for about eight years. Much of the work in getting the park focused on securing funding for the roughly $65,000 project, he said.
On Friday, that work bore fruit as county officials and residents celebrated the new field with a ribbon cutting ceremony.
“It means a lot for my grandchildren,” said area resident Georgia Jackson, who attended Friday’s ribbon-cutting. “They probably will play here. We’re gonna be out here to support them — we’ll participate.”
District 4 Supervisor Jeff Smith, whose district contains the park, said he was pleased to see the softball field completed. He said the project is a sign of things to come for improvements to Lowndes County’s recreation.
This is for the community — this is yours,” Smith said. “This gives you at least a small piece of some of the things we want to add to give you the quality of life that you so deserve in this community. This park will be a symbol for future projects in Lowndes County. As we continue to build on this particular project, we will be growing recreation activities all over the county.”
District 5 Supervisor Leroy Brooks credited Smith’s tenacity in pursuing the park.
Brooks said the park is an important part of laying a foundation for younger generations. He also said the Plum Grove community was overdue for a new recreational facility.
“Plum Grove deserves the same thing that people on Northside, Southside and everywhere else,” he said. “I’m glad to be here and glad to see this happen.”
The new softball field will go to Lowndes County after the county withdraws from its interlocal agreement with the city of Columbus for CLRA in October. Smith said the county’s recreation department will oversee the park.
Lewis said that, regardless of which agency maintains the park, it’s good for the community.
“Accessibility matters,” he said. “So when you have a community like Plum Grove and you take that a lot of the parks and a lot of the baseball fields are in the city limits, it’s very important that they have accessibility in their own community.”
Alex Holloway was formerly a reporter with The Dispatch.
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