Mayor outlines progress on Sand Beach Lake, YMCA armory proposal, industrial site and parks

At the council’s March meeting Mayor Amy Tizzix gave a multi-point update on parks, economic-development and redevelopment projects across Bolivar.

The mayor reported that work at Sand Beach Lake has progressed: the boat ramp is complete, footings for a pavilion are in place and concrete has been poured. She said delivery of the combined pavilion-and-restroom building is scheduled for mid-May and that once delivered crews will start on the pavilion slab, stage and restrooms. The city is working with Jamieson Slager of the Tennessee Office of Outdoor Recreation on a Blueway initiative for the Hatchett River and Sand Beach Lake; the mayor said the Blueway project could include self-rental kayaks and pedal boats or an on-site rental operation, though no final decision has been made. She also said the city has applied for a rails-to-trails grant related to an exterior trail but that the application result had not yet been announced.

On the YMCA proposal, the mayor said the preliminary architectural report (PAR) for converting the armory will be ready by the end of the month or the following week. The PAR is the document the city will use to approach USDA for building funding. The mayor said the purchase price for the armory and land is about $975,000 and that a parcel behind the armory would be donated to the city as part of the deal. She explained that USDA funding would cover work on the armory building itself (the remodel/new gymnasium) but would not fund ball fields or recreational amenities; those features would be pursued through separate funding transactions.

Regarding the city’s industrial portfolio, the mayor said the city is funding due diligence on a 300-acre parcel in its industrial park and that she recently presented the site to the Tennessee Department of Economic and Community Development (ECD). She described the Watson site as a large Greenfield industrial opportunity and said the city expects potential prospects to review the property.

The mayor also updated the council on other redevelopment items: Wall Innovations received a two-year extension on its state grant and has purchased a building and lined up a contractor; a brownfield assessment for the tannery property was approved and the assessment work is underway and will be submitted to the Tennessee Department of Environment and Conservation for guidance; and Blossom Park has donated playground equipment that the mayor said cost about $25,000 when purchased and the city is installing the equipment (installation is being performed by a contractor and the equipment donation reduces capital cost to the city).

The mayor said the ICE Building (at the County Industrial Park on Van Buren) remains under discussion with a prospective tenant; council later accepted a low bid for electrical and lighting rehabilitation of that building and the mayor said state approval will be required before work can begin.

Why this matters: The updates involve projects that affect recreation access, local economic development and reuse of vacant industrial property. The YMCA-armory plan, if funded, would combine building reuse with community recreation space; Sand Beach Lake construction will expand recreational amenities; and the industrial-site work supports business recruitment efforts.

Council questions and next steps: Councilmembers asked timeline questions and whether amenities such as kayak rentals would be city-run or provided by third parties; the mayor said she would wait for the state Blueway partner to determine a plan and that, if that doesn’t materialize, Parks and Recreation could operate rentals through existing summer staff. On the armory/YMCA plan the mayor said the engineering report will provide cost estimates and that she intends to convene a work session that includes YMCA representatives, engineers and USDA financial reviewers to evaluate financing options.

The mayor’s updates are administrative and informational; several of the items she discussed will require grant or state approvals before work begins.