FROM THE USAPA
A Premier Dedicated 18-Court Pickleball Complex in Spalding County, GA BY PETER PHELPS, PRESIDENT, SPALDING COUNTY PICKLEBALL ASSOCIATION, INC.
In early 2015, I and other local citizens approached the
Spalding County Board of Commissioners( BoC) with a proposal to build an 18-court( dedicated) Pickleball Complex in Wyomia Tyus Olympic Park in Spalding County, Georgia. In July 2015, the Pickleball Complex proposal( along with approximately 32 other projects) was approved by the Board of Commissioners to be included in the SPLOST( Special Purpose Local Option Sales Tax) referendum. On November 3, 2015, Spalding County voters approved the 2015 SPLOST. As a result of these approvals, the following facility is now being built: a magnificent facility resulting from the county’ s impressive investment. Tyus Park is the perfect setting... it is a beautiful park that has a lake with pavilions, walking trails, nature trails, fishing, disc golf, soccer and baseball / softball fields. A vendor area is also planned. The park is very close to numerous hotels / motels, restaurants and stores. On October 3, 2016, the county approved the construction contract. The contract calls for substantial completion by May 15, 2017. The county has demonstrated its commitment as follows: an extraordinary pickleball complex design; 18 dedicated courts( no contending with portable nets and multiple lines, no converted courts); walkways all around and through the complex providing great navigation, accessibility and mobility throughout the facility; a four‐court cover structure( protection against the weather), with more cover planned for the future; a concession stand; restrooms with changing areas; picnic and gathering areas( for resting, eating, and socializing); abundant seating for spectators and players; fences in and around all courts( less distraction and interruption); parking; lighting; additional shade structures; fountains and bottle fillers; and overflow parking with shuttle service. The Georgia Department of Economic Development called the Pickleball Complex a“ game changer” for sports tourism in Griffin-Spalding County. The potential economic impact is substantial for our community. Spalding County( just 35 miles south of Atlanta) is a perfect crossroads / central location for the five-state Atlantic-South Region and states beyond. There are abundant hotels, restaurants and stores on U. S. Routes 19 / 41, and they are very close to the park. We also have a high concentration of pickleball clubs and players in the north-central area of Georgia, so we are confident that the location will lend itself to high participation numbers, whether we are talking local open play, recreational play, wide-reaching league play or tournament play. A non-for-profit organization called the Spalding County Pickleball
The Groundbreaking Ceremony on November 1, 2016.
The pictures include Spalding County officials: Commissioners and County Management Staff, as well as Project Engineers and General Contractor Representatives.
Mitch Headly, GC; Peter Phelps, SCPA President; County BoC Chair Rita Johnson; County Manager William Wilson. Also from the SCPA: Sheila Phelps, Carey McRae, Dave Main and Lindsay Lancaster; County Commissioner Don Hawbaker.
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