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Commission weighs options for SPLOST 2011 youth‑enrichment funds after partner shifts
Summary
With a partner withdrawal, staff presented three options for spending $2011 SPLOST youth-enrichment funds: restart an RFP for a partner, combine funds with other SPLOST projects, or build a half‑court gym at Christine Howard (formerly Rock Springs) Park. Commissioners favored options that speed delivery and preserve value.
Staff briefed the commission on options for allocating remaining SPLOST 2011 funds earmarked for a youth enrichment facility after a previous partner (the Land Trust) elected to move on.
Staff said the county holds roughly $4.5 million in SPLOST 2011 proceeds and earned interest for that program; about $2.5 million is allocated to Project 22 and $2.0 million in unallocated earned interest could be applied. Staff described three options: (1) restart the original RFP/partner search, (2) combine the SPLOST 2011 funds with either Project 14 (West Park land and facility) or Project 23 (East Athens community/youth facility) to fund a facility on those project sites, or (3) use the money to complete the half‑court gym that was in the older master plan for the site now called Christine Howard Park (previously Rock Springs Park).
Staff estimated option 3 — building the half‑court gym at Christine Howard Park — could open in about 2½ years and that the $4.5 million would likely cover the conceptual cost of that gym. Staff noted Leisure Services was also seeking approximately $2.8 million in grant funds to supplement the project.
Commissioners generally favored approaches that would deliver a facility more quickly; several commissioners said the fund balance from 2011 buys less construction now than it did historically and supported completing a county‑owned site rather than restarting a lengthy partner selection. Staff will include option comparisons and pros/cons in the agenda report and bring a recommended action for the commission to consider in the coming weeks.
