Lowndes County plans to build a “regional” sports complex west of Columbus that would serve as the centerpiece of its new parks and recreation system.
Recreation Director Roger Short presented county supervisors with tentative plans for the complex, which could include T-ball, baseball and softball fields, during a special call-meeting Monday to discuss the future of county parks.
“This is a very aggressive vision…I realize that,” Short told the board. “But it would have a great economic impact. There are people that want to play in this area.”
Short announced that a bid placed last Monday for Penn Taylor Farm, an 89-acre site on the west side of the county, has been accepted by the owners, Jimmy Graham and Gregg Rader, for $890,000. The farm is located on North Frontage Road, due west of West Lowndes High School.
“We looked at two or three places,” Short told The Dispatch. “…We saw (Penn Taylor Farm), and thought ‘That’s perfect,’ and we knew it was pretty centralized.”
The farm was originally owned by Penn R Taylor, a lifelong resident of Lowndes County who previously served as both the county tax assessor and sheriff and passed away in 2009. When put on the market a few years ago, the property was appraised at $920,000, $30,000 more than what the county purchased it for.
Short proposed five youth baseball fields, four youth T-ball fields, four youth softball fields, four adult softball fields and two concession stands. This is just the initial process — the recreation department plans to continue building down the line.
“It allows for future growth and development,” Short said. “…You’d be set for the future recreation needs of the county.”
Start date and costs
Short could not speak to the cost of the new facility, as this is the first one of its kind in the county, but board president Harry Sanders, along with the board, is adamant on gathering expected costs and starting the process.
District 5 Board Member Leroy Brooks told Short to have a timetable ready to present to the board at its July 31 meeting.
“I don’t think any of this board wants to invest this money and not see it happen soon,” Brooks said. “…We need to move in an aggressive manner. You know, the train is leaving the station.”
Sanders previously told The Dispatch the county would begin contractual bidding in November, though he added that was tentative. At the meeting, he and other board members agreed with Brooks, saying that the county has a long history of doing everything in phases — including the Lowndes County Horse Park on Tom Rose Road — but that this sports complex needs to be different.
“Let’s get estimates on what it’s going to cost, then we can issue some 10-year bonds,” Sanders said. “…In the past we have done everything pay as you go. Now is the time that we bite the bullet and say, ‘Let’s go into some debt.'”
Sanders emphasized the usage being for everyone, not just Lowndes county.
“I want to make it explicitly clear that it will be a regional sportsplex. (Columbus) is welcome to utilize it just like Noxubee County, Oktibbeha County, Clay County,” he said. “(There are) no restrictions on if you can play there or not.”
Short compared the vision to neighboring sports facilities in Oxford, Tupelo, Starkville, Carthage and Southaven and said he wants the new complex to be on-par with others in the state.
“If we are going to do it we should do it right,” he said.
Brooks also said members of the county should have input in building the park, as well.
“I think we should have some sort of public forum,” he said. “…I would like to see people share their ideas and input…Then we come back and talk about what we heard.”
Other parks operations
The county also hopes for the next Fiscal Year, which begins Oct. 1, to lease three of the baseball fields at the Lake Lowndes State Park, located in the north side of the county, for $500 a month in order to use the fields as a practice spot, as well as one concession stand for games. This is lower than the initial offer of $600 per month that was negotiated and previously reported by The Dispatch.
This is based on an interlocal agreement in the works between the county recreation department and Mississippi Department of Wildlife, Fisheries and Parks, who own the facility.
This, however, is not to conflict with the intent to build a sports complex in the west side of the county.
“We discussed Lake Lowndes (as the sports complex site), but look, Lake Lowndes is ideal for New Hope, but it’s not ideal for the entire county,” Short said.
The county recreation department also plans to create a ninth community center, after just opening Concorde Community Center on July 21. Short presented the board with the proposal to draft an interlocal agreement for a 12-month lease for the use of the gymnasium and cafeteria at West Lowndes High School, which would be used for community events. Sanders supported the proposal.
“Lots of weddings and funerals are held there now,” Sanders said. “(It) could be used for somewhat of a community center. Not just a gymnasium.”
Short said that the cafeteria kitchen is of no use to the county appliance-wise and that shutting off those appliances would leave room to purchase tables and chairs to give it a similar feel compared to the other community centers in the county.
The final proposal made by Short was to begin renovations on the Crawford Gym, which the county owns.
Short suggested the county apply for the Small Municipalities and Limited Population Counties Grant Program to fund most, if not all, of the project, which he estimated would cost $150,000 to $200,000.
Grant applications are taken annually and awarded on a competitive basis. Fund availability is determined annually by the Mississippi Legislature.
“The application had to be done by June 1, so we missed this year, but we can apply next year,” Short said.
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