Another month has gone by and has led to yet another delay in the presentation of plans for the proposed new recreation complex on County Farm Road and renovations and improvements at Ware Street/Yeomans Street.
Last Tuesday’s meeting of the Pierce County Recreation Board was canceled due to lack of quorum, but the members present— Board Chairman Chris Wright and Board Member Brad Arington—expressed frustration over the lack of any plans for the new and renovated facilities.
A preliminary proposal with a $17.86 million cost estimate was presented by architects from Carter and Sloope of Macon at the board’s June, 2025 meeting. Sticker shock led to the proposal being sent back for modifications to get the project to a manageable price. Things have been at a standstill in the six months since, despite a voluntary August, 2025 deadline to have a proposal on the table. Recreation Director Maureen Brown said John Stover, architect with Carter and Sloope, asked for more specific plans from the recreation board to include whether the project can be split in to phases, design plans on the buildings and what types of buildings to be used, down to what types of building materials to be used.
He asked for a meeting with the recreation board to get further instructions and ideas on the new construction and renovations.
Wright and Arington were of the opinion the architects already have enough information to present a plan.
“We have already said we can’t afford a Taj Mahal, but let’s do something. We need a base price to get started. We can go from there,” said Arington. “We are much too early in this process to be discussing where we want to put the microwaves in the concession stand.”
Wright agreed saying the board needed a starting point.
Both men said that a base price would give them something to work toward to maybe secure in kind funding or donations to help bring down costs.
Wright has said the project can be pared down to something in the $7 million range.
Plans call for the construction of a new baseball/ softball complex on County Farm Road.
The Ware/Yeomans Street project would include an overhaul of the existing park to include new football and soccer facilities.
The special purpose local option sales tax earmark for recreation is about $3.45 million from the current SPLOST and previous SPLOST.
Wright said bonds for the project can be secured and he believes tournaments hosted by the recreation department can generate revenue to be earmarked for the new complex and the renovations.
Wright has also suggested the work be done in phases and that the county look for other funding options, such as bonds and grants, to help pay for the new facilities.
