News Summary
The Clinton City Council is making significant progress on a new Recreation Complex set to include multi-purpose fields and various amenities. The city has authorized an MOU with the Clinton Family YMCA for programming, aiming to provide community recreational opportunities. Amid discussions about affordability for families, the YMCA reassured that no child will be turned away for financial reasons. The council also addressed challenges around zoning actions, approved community grants, and plans for a youth baseball complex, emphasizing the project’s transformative potential for the city.
Clinton – The Clinton City Council has made significant strides in advancing the plans for a new Recreation Complex located on Highway 56. A recent decision includes the authorization of a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with the Clinton Family YMCA, which will take charge of programming at the complex. This partnership will enable the city to access multi-purpose fields this month and baseball fields by August 2025. The YMCA will shift its soccer leagues from Presbyterian College and relocate baseball leagues from its current site on Springdale Drive to the new complex.
The fields at the Recreation Complex will be open to the public when they are not in use by the YMCA for recreational activities. Planned features of the complex encompass a splash pad, picnic shelters, walking and biking trails, and a proposed amphitheater as part of a long-range plan presented to the council.
During the meeting, Council Member Anita Williams expressed concerns regarding the YMCA’s management of the Recreation Complex, particularly about potential affordability issues for families unable to pay the YMCA membership fees. In response, the Executive Director of the YMCA affirmed that no child is turned away due to financial constraints, as the organization offers scholarships for participants. Mayor Randy Randall highlighted the successful history of collaboration between the City and the YMCA, emphasizing the importance of providing recreational opportunities to the community.
In addition to these developments, the council has faced some challenges. They temporarily withheld the approval of the minutes from their June 23 meeting due to public concerns about discrepancies related to zoning actions. Despite these hurdles, the council has made progress on other fronts, including the approval of $20,000 in community assistance grants for various local groups.
The council also approved the installation of a four-sided kiosk at The Depot, aimed at directing tourists to Revolutionary War battle sites in preparation for the 250th Anniversary of the Declaration of Independence.
In a significant financial move, the Clinton City Council unanimously approved the first reading of an ordinance to sell 552.72 acres of land to ARK Management One Corporation for the development of a youth baseball complex. The city will sell the property at a rate of $2,500 per acre, including a repurchase agreement if the construction does not begin within 15 months. This proposed baseball complex is set to feature 13 turf fields along with a mixed-use development consisting of housing, hotels, and restaurants.
The overall estimated cost for the master plan of the Clinton Recreation Complex stands at $46.7 million; however, the current city funds allocated for the project are only at $8 million. Site preparation costs are estimated to reach $25,533,447, while vertical construction estimates are at $21,204,512. The city is prioritizing various projects within the complex due to rising construction costs that stem from material shortages and inflation.
The Recreation Complex is poised to be a transformative addition to the City of Clinton, offering enhanced recreational opportunities and facilities for residents and visitors alike. With a variety of features planned and the recent agreements in place, the council is hopeful that this initiative will foster community engagement and promote active lifestyles in the area.
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Additional Resources
- Clinton News: Rec Center Programming by YMCA
- Wikipedia: Recreational Facility
- Golaurens: Youth Baseball Project Approved
- Google Search: Clinton Recreation Complex
- Clinton News: City Council Election
- Google Scholar: Clinton City Council
- LJ World: Clinton State Park Visitor Center
- Encyclopedia Britannica: Recreation
- Golaurens: Master Plan for Recreation Complex
- Google News: Clinton Recreation Complex News
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