$2.6M project funded by SPLOST

Macon-Bibb County Commissioners, the Parks and Recreation Department, and Vine-Ingle Little League will celebrate the start of Freedom Park’s (3301 Roff Avenue) next phase of improvements with a groundbreaking on Wednesday, June 28, at 10:00 a.m. The event will be held at the softball fields near the recreation center.

The improvements are being funded with $2.6 million from the voter-approved Special Purpose Local Option Sales Tax (SPLOST), and construction is expected to take 270 days. This phase of improvements includes: four new baseball and softball fields in a wagon wheel configuration, new concession stand at the center of the fields, a new splash pad, removal of the pool that has been inoperable for several years, and relocation of Morgan Drive so that it doesn’t go through the middle of the fields. A rendering of the master plan for Freedom Park is above; this phase is for improvements to the left of Roff Avenue.

“The interest in baseball in Macon-Bibb County is increasing every day, from this investment to increased attendance at the leagues at Delores A. Brooks Recreation Center to a new field that will be built by Hartley Elementary to major improvements at Luther Williams Field that are bringing a college league team to town,” says Mayor Robert Reichert. “Our community is getting behind baseball in a big way, and we’re delighted to have a SPLOST that allows us to support our children by giving them more access to this great sport.”

These improvements follow a SPLOST-funded upgrade to the recreation center at Freedom Park that converted the gymnasium into the Bishop Frank Ray Arena, featuring two rings, 600 bleacher seats, new flooring, and more. Since its conversion, it has hosted multiple local, state, and regional boxing tournaments. For more information, you can visit them at 3301 Roff Avenue, or give them a call at 751-9280. Also, you can like them on Facebook to stay up-to-date with activities and events.