SYLACAUGA, Ala. – In the Council chambers of City Hall on Thursday evening, Nov. 10, representatives from Chambless King Architects, Brailsford & Dunlavey consulting firm, and HNP Landscape Architecture presented the results of the Recreation Master Plan survey as well as unveiled the initial plans of the catalyst project for a new Parks and Recreation multi-purpose site.
Sylacauga Parks and Rec director Steve Masters opened the meeting and welcomed Kaylee Cofer of Chambless King Architects, Edward Norwood of Brailsford & Dunlavey, and Michael O’Brien of HNP Landscape Architecture.
The survey results, which showed that an estimated six percent of the community took and completed the survey, explained that the majority of local citizens value an indoor and/or outdoor aquatics center along with more public restrooms.
Norwood explained that six percent is a fairly common and acceptable amount of participation with a community survey, saying that “anywhere from ten to five percent is great.”
Going with the survey statistics provided by Brailsford & Dunlavey, O’Brien unveiled the first draft shown to the public of the master plan for a new Parks and Rec development that would be built on the 25-acre, city-owned location that sits across the street from State Farm Albia Steers on Hwy 21.
The proposed new indoor aquatics facility would be the first project built on the site and would be visible from Hwy 21, according to O’Brien.
The master plan also showed the potential for more development in sub-phases which could include an outdoor aquatics area with a splash pad or lazy river and an outdoor pool, outdoor pickleball and basketball courts, an amphitheater, a pavilion, plenty of green spaces and walkways, and a new field for football and soccer.
Chambless King Architects’s master plan was created based on the input provided by community members in the survey.
Also, the firms’ representatives and Masters stressed that even though new facilities will start construction in the future, the Parks and Rec do not want to neglect existing parks and facilities. The group went on to outline what improvements have been made and talked about new renovations that are coming.
Another meeting is set to take place at a date yet to be determined in December where any changes to the master plan and catalyst project will be shown after the firms receive additional feedback from those that attended Thursday night’s meeting.
