Visions 2015 Rockdale News Special Section | Page 4

COUNTY VISION

SHINING
JEWEL
Vision of performing arts center
as anchor of live-work-play area
By Martin Rand III

H

anging on the wall in Rockdale
County Chairman and CEO Richard
Oden’s office is a framed artist’s rendering of what he considers to be the future
of the county.
The drawing depicts a performance arts
center and other buildings positioned around
an oval-shaped pool with plenty of walking
paths, grassland, and trees in between and
surrounding each structure.
“(It’s a) constant reminder of what it looks
like,” Oden said while grinning and looking at
the picture.
Oden has had his eye on this image becoming a reality since
he took office in 2009. Right off the Sigman Road exit of Interstate-20, there are wooded lots that have been tagged as an area
that needs development by the federal government. Oden envisions the performing arts center being a major presence in the
community that will increase the festivities offered in Rockdale
and bring a surge of tourism.
“I think it adds a multipurpose opportunity,” he said. “I think
the performing arts center would add huge value to this community and create jobs more importantly.”
Along with the performing arts center, Oden’s picture has a
hotel, a shopping center, “affordable” apartment-style housing,
4 ROCKDALENEWS.COM l Visions 2015

“This is why you talk about
innovation. This is why I’m
speaking to public-private
partnership,” he said. “People
say, ‘Well you got your head
in the sky.’ Well then I got
my head in the sky, but guess
what, so did the first person
who said we’re going to a
spaceship on the moon."

—

richard oden
County Chairman and CEO