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Lewisburg’s recreation department earns praise and $380,000+ in grant commitments for courts, with more funding pending
Summary
The council recognized Lewisburg Recreation Center staff and heard from the recreation director about rising revenues, a forthcoming indoor-pool closure for dehumidifier work and two awarded Tennessee Department of Health grants totaling $380,000 for courts and neighborhood improvements.
The Lewisburg City Council recognized staff from the Lewisburg Recreation Center at its Aug. 12 meeting and heard a detailed parks and recreation update that included award notices for two state grants and plans for capital work.
Carrie, the city’s recreation director, read an email of praise from resident Mary Hickman commending the aquatics staff’s attentiveness and the facility’s cleanliness. “The facilities and staff are top notch,” the email said. Carrie told council that many rec-center employees are high-school or college students who rely on the jobs to help pay for school and living expenses.
On capital projects, Carrie reported that the city has received two grants from the Tennessee Department of Health. Project Diabetes awarded $300,000 (no local match required) for tennis-court resurfacing and construction of four new outdoor pickleball courts with new fencing and LED lighting. A second award, the Healthy Built Environments grant, will provide $80,000 (fully funded) for playground equipment, resurfacing a neighborhood basketball court and potentially adding pickleball striping to create a multipurpose surface. Carrie said the Project Diabetes work cannot begin until July 2026, and the Healthy Built Environments contract paperwork is expected by September.
Carrie said two additional grant applications remain pending: a T-Mobile hometown grant for Jones Park improvements (basketball resurfacing, lights and bleachers) and a National Recreation and Park Association workforce stipend of $20,000 for rural parks workforce development. She told council she expects award notifications for those at the end of the month.
Operational notes included that the indoor pool will close for construction when a replacement dehumidifier ships (Carrie said shipping is expected Aug. 31) and that the outdoor pool will remain open while the indoor unit is serviced. She also reported an 88% increase in recreation revenue since 2019 and recommended modest snack-bar price increases that she estimated could raise about $12,000 annually.
The council recognized the Red Sand Project event on July 29 and a city proclamation designating that day as the Red Sand Project Day in Lewisburg. The project aimed to raise awareness about human trafficking by pouring red sand into sidewalk cracks as a visual symbol and to prompt community conversations.
Mayor Bingham thanked Carrie and the rec staff for their work and the council noted the grant awards and planned follow-up actions to place bid specs for pool resurfacing and window repairs.
Council action did not require a formal vote on the grant acceptances at this meeting; staff said contracts and bidding will follow normal procurement procedures.
