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Southaven mayor urges indoor tennis as priority for parks enhancement funded by tourism tax
Summary
Mayor Caleb told the Board of Aldermen that the best return on the city's tourism-tax-funded parks enhancement plan is an indoor tennis facility at Snowden Grove, citing steady tourism revenue and program growth; aldermen asked for cost estimates and an audit before committing to bonding.
Mayor Caleb opened a public discussion of the parks enhancement plan — funded by local tourism tax on restaurants and hotels — by urging the board to prioritize an indoor tennis facility at Snowden Grove Park.
"We believe that the best investment for the next 4 years is indoor tennis," the mayor said, noting the city's tennis program began in 2016 and has expanded to 20 outdoor courts and growing demand. He told the board this approach would create a year-round revenue stream, reduce weather‑related cancellations and increase capacity for tournaments and high‑school and collegiate events.
The mayor said current tourism-tax revenue for the year is about $3.4 million and that a conservative projection through the extension period would total roughly $13.75 million by 2030. He said architects have prepared plans that would allow phased construction — start with a build that can be expanded later — and emphasized the need to wait for a pending audit to confirm debt capacity before pursuing bonding.
A board member who asked not to be named in this release urged a more ambitious build: "I want 12," the committee member said, arguing that building larger now could set a regional standard. The mayor replied that the recommended design could be expanded later and that the city has "a large amount of debt capacity" but that staff prefers to confirm financials first.
Other aldermen raised related park priorities that remain on the 2022–26 plan, including dog‑park siting, vinyl fencing and finishing netting at existing courts. The mayor warned of liability concerns about locating a dog park adjacent to a children's playground and asked staff to obtain pre‑bid estimates for fencing and netting before the board takes formal action.
No board action was taken at the meeting; the mayor said the item will return on a future agenda with additional cost information and a place on the capital‑improvement plan for board consideration.
