Construction begins on new park in Macon

MACON, Georgia (41NBC/WMGT) – Phase one of a $7 million dollar project is underway after a groundbreaking ceremony on Friday.

South Macon residents are getting a park, fittingly named the South Macon-Bibb Recreation Center. It is funded by SPLOST (special-purpose, local-option sales tax) dollars.

It’s been a long wait for Shelvy Neal, who lives nearby.

“I’m excited, I felt like it would eventually get here because I wasn’t going to shut-up,” Neal said with a laugh.

Phase one of construction is building the main recreation building, which has basketball courts, dance rooms, locker rooms and classrooms. Just outside of the building will be an eight-lane competition swimming pool.

David Schroeder is an architect working on the project. He says the there is much more in store.

“The final completed version of the park has everything, something for everyone. Everything you could imagine from play fields and splash grounds to soccer fields and a full baseball complex, tennis complex, dog parks, and a couple miles of walking trails,” Schroeder said. “The future vision of the park is very grand.”

In order for construction to continue after phase one, Macon citizens will have to approve of the new SPLOST.

Construction on the recreation building and swimming pool will be completed in the early months of 2017.