Will revenue bonds be used for the proposed expansion/renovation of Pierce County’s Recreation Complex?
Rec board chairman Chris Wright suggested using bonds to help finance the recreation expansion project during the recreation board’s meeting last Tuesday morning.
Wright said recreation will be one of several uses of revenues from the proposed extension of the county’s special purpose local option sales tax (SPLOST). The SPLOST referendum will be on the ballot next Tuesday, March 18. (See related story.)
Wright said the recreation portion of the SPLOST is expected to generate $2.38 million over the life of the tax. Estimated cost of the recreation complex expansion/renovation is estimated at approximately $12-16 million.
Wright suggested revenue bonds would allow the county to build the complex now, though revenues from future SPLOSTs would have to be dedicated to pay off the bonds.
Third district commissioner Randy Dixon tentatively endorsed Wright’s idea.
“We are growing. We need to get it built and stop just talking about it,” he said.
Dixon is an ex-officio member of the recreation board.
The recreation board and county officials got their first look at new concept plans for the new County Farm Road and renovations at the Ware Street Park were unveiled at the board’s February meeting.
Representatives of Carter and Sloope of Macon made the presentation. Carter and Sloope is the architect for the projects.
Several proposals were made. Plans for the new County Farm complex include having a baseball/ softball complex or doing a soccer, football and pickleball complex there. Additionally, plans were presented featuring both options at Ware Street. The William Wall Complex on Ware Street would also include a new recreation administration office and a new gym.
The Ware Street complex would also utilize additional land the county purchased for recreation use across Yeomans Street.
Rec board members have said they would like a complex featuring 4-6 “square fields” for football and soccer, 6-8 baseball/softball fields, a two court basketball gym, two tennis courts and two pickleball courts, a walking track, a multipurpose room for bingo, shooting sports for 4-H and coach meetings and an administration building.
