The Columbus-Lowndes Recreation Authority’s organization and operation may soon be a hot topic of discussion.
Lowndes County Board of Supervisors President Harry Sanders has informed Columbus Mayor Robert Smith, through a letter, of his intention to request that his board hire consultants to review CLRA. Sanders plans to bring the matter before his board on Friday. Smith, in a letter to Sanders dated today, has requested the city be involved in the process.
Sanders said county residents have expressed displeasure over the lack of extensive park facilities outside of the city. CLRA facilities in the county consist primarily of community centers.
Speculation that such a study may lead to the break-up of the joint city-county venture has existed since Sanders’ letter was sent. Smith predicted such a separation would lead to “recreation segregation.”
CLRA’s structure
CLRA operates under an inter-local agreement between Columbus and Lowndes County. The agreement was enacted in 1990, and requires one year of notice before either party withdraws.
CLRA is governed by a five-member board of directors, with two members appointed from the city, two from the county and one member jointly appointed by both entities. The board currently consists of president and county appointee Scott Hannon, county appointee Donnie Sanders, city appointee Harry Ford, city appointee Bennie Coleman and at-large appointee Shane Edwards.
Greg Lewis is the executive director of CLRA.
Funding and facilities
CLRA received $1.42 million in revenue for fiscal year 2016. Most of the funds came from the city and county, with $649,693 allocated from Columbus and $730,000 from Lowndes County. The rest of CLRA’s revenue comes from a projected $20,000 in sports program income, $20,000 from building rentals and $5,250 for a concession contract.
CLRA maintains 18 facilities, most of which are within the city limits.
Facilities within city limits include: Propst Park; the Columbus Soccer Complex, the CLRA/Cook Soccer Complex; Lee Park; East Columbus Gym; Northaven Woods Park; Concord Park; Hank Aaron Park; Sim Scott Park; Townsend Park; the Charles Brown basketball pavilion; Dean Acres Park.
Facilities outside city limits include: Anderson Grove Community Center, Artesia Community Center, Crawford Community Center, Concord Park, Plum Grove Community Center; the Caledonia Community Center; and the Steens Community Center.
Should the inter-local agreement be terminated, all CLRA property located within Columbus city limits will become the property of the city, and all property located outside of city limits will become the property of Lowndes County, according to the agreement.
CLRA’s league sports programs draw hundreds of participants, according to reports provided to The Dispatch. In 2015, baseball programs drew 499; softball drew 498; and basketball drew 161. Soccer drew 564 participants for 2015-16.
Overall CLRA participation for soccer and basketball are growing while other sports have seen the numbers of participants drop since 2006, according to data provided by CLRA.
Looking to the future
Lewis said he hasn’t been involved in any conversations about a lack of recreational opportunities for county residents and no one raised the concern to him.
For the moment, he said he has three primary goals for CLRA.
“The biggest things that I want to do are complete the soccer complex,” Lewis said. “There are about three more fields that are supposed to go down there. We want to complete the soccer complex so we’ll be in a good position to bid out tournaments because some need more fields.
“We need to renovate and reconfigure the Propst Park baseball complex,” Lewis added. “And we want to make sure that we go ahead and complete the Field of Dreams for those children with disabilities.”
Alex Holloway was formerly a reporter with The Dispatch.
You can help your community
Quality, in-depth journalism is essential to a healthy community. The Dispatch brings you the most complete reporting and insightful commentary in the Golden Triangle, but we need your help to continue our efforts. In the past week, our reporters have posted 48 articles to cdispatch.com. Please consider subscribing to our website for only $2.30 per week to help support local journalism and our community.
You can help your community
Quality, in-depth journalism is essential to a healthy community. The Dispatch brings you the most complete reporting and insightful commentary in the Golden Triangle, but we need your help to continue our efforts. In the past week, our reporters have posted 48 articles to cdispatch.com. Please consider subscribing to our website for only $2.30 per week to help support local journalism and our community.
