Commission aims at $500K to enhance new sports facilities for of all ages
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By early fall, Clay County officials should know if taxpayers will be off the hook for half a million dollars worth of funding for the Clay County Sports Complex. The Clay County Board of Commissioners approved a proposal to apply for a North Carolina Parks and Recreation Trust Fund grant during a special called meeting on Friday in Hayesville.
Clay County Recreation Sports Coordinator Jerry Payne and County Manager Debbie Mauney presented the proposal to the board. If successful, the PARTF grant would supply $500,000 for Phase II of the complex, while Clay County would contribute $553,447, according to a letter of support from N.C. State Sen. Kevin Corbin. Phase II includes a multi-purpose indoor sports arena, an attached open air covered picnic area, an area for informal games such as horseshoes and corn hole and a covered pavilion.
“As Chairman Rob Peck mentioned earlier, there’s no doubt the Clay County Board of Commissioners have a commitment to the recreation sports in Clay County,” Vice Chairman Randy Nichols said. “I think we all support it wholeheartedly and we support getting this building built. If we receive this grant, that would take a pile of money off the backs of taxpayers of Clay County.”
The board approved borrowing more than $2.6 million for the sports complex in January 2020. Phase I, which is currently under construction, consists of a baseball field and softball field. A two-story building between the men’s and women’s fields, will house the concession area, bathrooms and press box Each commissioner voiced support for the grant application, as did several local officials, including Clay County School Superintendent Dale Cole.
The superintendent said he believes the complex will benefit Clay County youth, senior citizens, families and even foster better relationships within the community as a whole. “The more we can have kids involved in positive opportunities for sports and recreation when they’re not in school, the better off all of us are going to be,” Cole said.
“Next I would say, we have a rather large retirement community here in Clay County and it’s important for them to have opportunities to stay active and to do so outside. “I think a complex like this gives our families an option to be able to get outside, do things together and build those family connections that make our county, our state and our nation strong. Having a facility like this also allows you to be proactive as a county and a town, to make sure our community members can get out together and build trusting, positive relationships with one another over time.”
Corbin represents North Carolina’s 50th district, which consists of Clay, Cherokee, Graham, Haywood, Jackson, Macon and Swain counties. In a letter to PARTF Director Dwayne Patterson, Corbin said the amenities included in Phase II of the complex will add needed recreation possibilities to Clay County. “It is a privilege for me to endorse the request for a PARTF Grant to Clay County for Phase Two construction of the Clay County Sports Complex,” Corbin said. “Clay County has limited resources for the citizens to use. There is no public pool, no state park within the county and no theater, to name a few.” Mauney said she believes the county should know the results of the application around early September.
Phase II of the complex will consist of:
• A 100 feet by 125 feet multi-purpose building for indoor batting practice, basketball, exercise classes and other sports activities for all ages.
• A 16 feet by 125 feet open-air, covered picnic area attached to the side of the multi-purpose building, along with tables and trash receptacles.
• An area for informal games such as corn hole, horseshoes and more. • A 24 feet by 48 feet timber-framed pavilion with benches for seating.