COLUMBUS — While the wind whipped across the prairie west of the river on Tuesday night, the glare of the setting sun made quite a scene as community leaders gathered to celebrate the years of work from planners, architects, and workers to open the new BankFirst Yards sportsplex.
“As Stanley Spradling and I were walking up, he said, ‘The wind is always blowing in the prairie,’” Lowndes County District 5 Supervisor Leroy Brooks said.
Brooks grew up in the area and recounted his days as a kid forking bales of hay on the old 100-acre farm that was once there. In the same spot now sits what Brooks called a “field of dreams” for the community.
They built it, and many came to honor its unveiling.
“This sportsplex is a foundation for a better life,” Brooks said in his speech. “There’s one thing about recreation that you hope to put into these children, not just competition, but the spirit of teamwork and respecting one another. Growing up together without any notice of gender, race, or other issues. That these young boys and girls can become and will be our leaders of tomorrow.”
BankFirst Yards is the result of countless advocates, sponsors and builders working for years toward completing the $12 million first phase of a park many already hope to expand soon.
BankFirst’s sponsorship agreement includes a commitment of $25,000 a year over 10 years to go into the general fund, money which will help cover some of the expenses of operating the sportsplex.
BankFirst president James Hazard, a Columbus native who grew up playing baseball in the city, was on hand to cut the ribbon.
The complex features eight fields fitted to host baseball and softball, two family zones and concession stands with bathrooms, water fountains, and picnic areas, and a playground placed in between the two groups of fields.
Board of Supervisors president Trip Hairston utilized part of his time at the podium to recognize the groundwork laid by previous board members and the many project partners present on the day, as well as to advocate for expansion in the near future.
“I envision a multi-purpose room, a multi-purpose facility here, and I envision that being a part of what makes this park great,” Hairston said, “and I hope all of you will join me in support of building the next phase.”
In remembering the past and the work done that led to the completion of the park, the speakers took the opportunity to remember two key figures in the park’s development who passed away before its completion; engineer Robert Calvert and former Lowndes Recreation director Roger Short.
“He put in yeoman’s work in order to make this park a reality,” Lowndes County administrator Jay Fisher said of Calvert. “He was a county engineer for over 20 years and spent hours with the Federal Aviation Administration to make sure we could build this facility.”
Short, who died in 2022, was a pivotal figure in pushing along the construction of BankFirst Yards, as well as the Roger Short Soccer Complex, which was renamed in his honor in 2023.
“I thought I would be remiss being that I’m the recreation director and I have huge, huge shoes to fill, to not mention him and not let you know how much his legacy means to me,” Lowndes County Recreation director Jennifer Claybrook said at the start of the ceremony.
“You cannot look around and not see Roger Short’s fingerprints,” Hairston added to the tributes to Short. “We miss him very much, but we know if he were here this would be a crowning moment for his career. We’re thankful for Roger and his development of this park and the fingerprints he leaves behind.”
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