After a long discussion about offering more diversity at the planned sportsplex, the Lowndes County Board of Supervisors voted unanimously to begin planning for a second phase to add more amenities, including storm shelters.
The move came after a request by District 4 Supervisor Jeff Smith, statements from two residents and an impassioned plea by District 5 Supervisor Leroy Brooks.
On April 4 the board voted 3-2, with District 1 Supervisor Harry Sanders, District 2 Supervisor Trip Hairston and District 3 Supervisor John Holliman voting yes and Smith and Brooks voting no, to start construction on eight baseball/softball fields, a multipurpose building and playground, an entry gate and picnic tables and other furnishings. The complex will be built on 89 acres located on North Frontage Road, roughly across Highway 82 from West Lowndes High School. The county paid about $840,000 for the property.
Smith said at the time that he wanted to see more than just ball fields, and he returned Monday with that same message. Two county citizens who live west of Columbus also voiced their concerns.
Brenda Martin said she wants to see amenities for tennis, walking tracks, basketball, gymnastics and golf.
“A lot of people are leaving because they feel like Columbus is not providing the activities or stuff for them,” she said. “… We need all we can get at the sportsplex so our children will have something to do and not start doing things they don’t need to be doing, like all this gun violence and robbing people.”
Gwen King said she wanted to see storm shelters.
“When our children get out of school because of weather, they are sent home to mostly mobile homes,” King said. “Most of the structures they are in are not up to par. Please consider doing a storm shelter at the sportsplex. We desperately need a storm shelter west of the river.
“(Kids) have got to live in order to enjoy the sportsplex,” she added. “We need that storm shelter yesterday.”
Smith said the current plans are backward-looking.
“I think this board is making decisions based on today’s mindset and not tomorrow’s mindset,” he said. “Basketball is one of the fastest growing sports (among African Americans). I (also) want there to be an area for people to pull up and read a book under a pavilion while their kids play at a spray area.”
Smith agreed that shelters were needed, as well.
“I don’t know why this facility couldn’t have storm shelter capabilities,” he said. “… West of the river we have no shelters. Every time there’s a possibility of storms coming to Lowndes County, I just cringe.”
Brooks said the plans were not a good reflection of the “total picture of the youth” in Lowndes County.
“We have made recreation in this town two things: baseball and softball,” he said. “What do Tiger Woods, Serena Williams, Simone Biles have in common? They didn’t play softball or baseball. They nurtured their skills in some other arena.”
He agreed with Smith that baseball was “fading out” in the African American community.
“I read that only 8.4 percent of African American kids from age 7 to 13 are playing baseball,” he said. “I’ve been a fan all my life and I’ve watched African Americans fade out. It’s not a sport that’s attracting Black kids. They love basketball and football, and we don’t have an indoor gym.”
Brooks also wondered if the community could afford two major programs.
“I can’t support this because I think the implications are far-reaching as far as the detriment of this community,” he said.
Sanders agreed that storm shelters were needed.
“We could take some of our (American Rescue Plan Act) money and build a storm shelter that could be utilized as a gymnasium,” Sanders said.
Sanders suggested coming up with a second list of amenities and putting out for bids later.
“Include a gymnasium, walking tracks, a swimming pool, whatever you want to,” he said. “You’ve got land out there to do that with.”
Brooks said he didn’t want to wait.
“If we’re going to do some other things, we need to bring in the architect and sit down and say what we want and get a price tag,” Brooks said. “… If we’re going to do some things at the park, we need to do it now.”
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