Estimates for a planned second phase for the Lowndes County sportsplex are between $13 and $14 million, Joey Henderson with JBHM Architects told the board of supervisors on Monday.
Henderson pitched the plan, which includes more parking, multipurpose fields, a splash pad, administrative space and a multipurpose building that houses a storm shelter. This would be in addition to the $12 million first phase of the sportsplex that would build eight baseball softball fields, a multipurpose building and a playground at the nearly 90-acre site off Highway 82 west of Columbus.
“We’re totalling up to be back where we were initially, which was about $29 million,” Henderson said.
Henderson’s original master plan, which included an aquatics center, walking trails and many other features that ended up on the cutting room floor, totaled up around $29.5 million.
On April 4 the supervisors voted 3-2 to proceed with phase one of the trimmed-down plan. District 1 Supervisor Harry Sanders, District 2 Supervisor Trip Hairston and District 3 Supervisor John Holliman voted yes, with District 4 Supervisor Jeff Smith or District 5 Supervisor Leroy Brooks voting no.
On April 18 Smith asked the supervisors to consider adding a second phase, with a storm shelter and a gym, among other things. There are currently no storm shelters west of the Tombigbee River, in spite of the fact that many area residents live in mobile homes.
The plan Henderson pitched Monday tried to tie up some of those loose ends.
The multipurpose building is the centerpiece, he said.
“It would have a large multipurpose space that could be sized to handle two basketball courts, two to three volleyball courts and four to six paddleball courts, as well as a rock climbing wall, an elevated walking track and a rubberized floor,” he said.
A common space — in addition to the gym — would provide an area for “general circulation,” as well areas for games, gatherings and other activities, Henderson said. Plans call for four program spaces at 1,200 square feet each, with access to a warming kitchen.
A portion of the building would be designated as a storm shelter that could house about 950 people, he said.
Other features include about 110 new parking spaces and two multipurpose fields, each about the size of a football field, with sod and irrigation, Henderson said. Plans also call for a splash pad and an administration building with a reception area, three offices, a conference space and a coffee bar.
The majority of the cost comes from the concrete multipurpose building, which totals some $10 million. Henderson said the building is concrete due to stringent Federal Aviation Administration limitations on metal and metal buildings due to the proximity to an aviation-related navigation beacon on the corner of the site.
“We couldn’t even have metal poles; we had to have concrete poles,” he said. “If we start out with a big metal roof, that’s probably something they’re not going to allow us to do.”
Smith said the county needs to think about making the site a revenue generator.
“People travel every weekend to these facilities, and their hotels are filled and their restaurants are filled,” he said. “… People are looking for something different, and we just continue with business as usual. … We’re limiting ourselves and we’re limiting this community because we’re afraid. We take steps that look good on the surface but don’t have any impact.”
Brooks asked if the other supervisors were interested in proceeding with a second phase.
“If we’re not, let’s not play with it,” Brooks said. “I’m not for keeping on going to the drawing board and coming up with proposals if we already know it’s not going to happen.”
Hairston questioned the cost.
“As one vote on this board, I would love to figure out a way to do a multipurpose building,” he said. “But I’m discouraged by the cost.”
Brooks said supervisors need to think about their willingness to proceed and come back at the next meeting ready to make a decision one way or the other.
“Everybody needs to put on their come-to-Jesus hat and figure out what they’re committed to doing,” he said. “And let’s come in here and do it at the end of the month after everyone has time to give it some prayerful thought. Then come in here and be straight up about whether we’re going to do it or not do it.”
Brian Jones is the local government reporter for Columbus and Lowndes County.
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