Macon leaders celebrate start of Memorial Park renovations

Macon-Bibb County officials celebrated the start of work at Memorial Park with a groundbreaking Thursday morning.

Various officials, architects and a contractor were on hand to celebrate the start of $2.1 million in upgrades to the center at 764 Long St. The renovations will include an expanded entrance, a renovated pool and new bathrooms, a computer lab, meeting space and a workout room.

Memorial Park, built in 1947, also will get improved security and a new concession stand near its baseball field.

"What stands out to me is the renovations will add a touch of modern, a touch of class," said Macon-Bibb Commissioner Virgil Watkins, who represents the district where the center is located. "I've been in Macon for 30 years, and (Memorial Park) has always looked like" it does now.

The renovations incorporate more windows and open space that will create a more inviting environment and help staff members observe what's happening, said Lee Martin, an architect with 2WR + PARTNERS, which designed the upgrades along with WM2A Architects.

Construction at Memorial Park officially will not start until March 3 to allow the center to be used for the March 1 U.S. presidential primary. The project should take about 210 days, which means a dedication likely will be held in the fall, said Scott Thompson, with Piedmont Construction Group.

"Once you're inside, you're not going to be able to recognize it," he said.

The upgrades are being paid for with money from the special purpose local option sales tax. Macon voters could decide in November whether to support extending the penny tax for future SPLOST projects.

Jeffery Monroe, chairman of the Macon-Bibb County SPLOST Advisory Committee, said the changes to Memorial Park are examples of why the SPLOST is important to Macon.

"This update will provide more opportunities for young people and people of all ages to make use of this facility," he said.

The next recreation center groundbreaking likely will take place at the Frank Johnson Center where about $900,000 has been set aside for various repairs. Construction on the largest recreation project -- the nearly $8 million south Bibb recreation center -- is expected to start later this year.

To contact writer Stanley Dunlap, call 744-4623 or find him on Twitter@stan_telegraph.

This story was originally published February 11, 2016 at 4:47 PM with the headline "Macon leaders celebrate start of Memorial Park renovations ."