At its Dec. 10, 2024, regular session, the Charles County Board of County Commissioners approved a request for a letter of support advocating for the inclusion of a natatorium in the planned renovations of La Plata High School. The facility would replace the school’s outdoor pool, which is currently only available for public use during the summer months.
The commissioners endorsed an expansion of the school’s space allocation plan by 3,000 square feet to accommodate the natatorium, aligning with cooperative agreements under the School Construction Program. The project is a joint effort between Charles County Public Schools and the Department of Recreation, Parks, and Tourism, which would manage the new facility to provide year-round aquatic programs for the community.
A key feature of the proposed natatorium is its potential standalone design, allowing public access to the pool during school hours without disrupting school operations—a challenge that has arisen with previous school-based pools. [The Bay Net]
Jared Hansen, maintenance director for Carbon School District (CSD), attended Price City’s Planning and Zoning (P & Z) meeting on Feb. 24 to give an update on the new athletic center that CSD has planned to build. Hansen advised that the plans to build a district athletic center has been in the works since the Carbon High School remodel.
Hansen informed the P & Z committee that CSD has been able to set aside enough money to fund the entire project, but they will still seek a low-interest loan for a small portion of the project to avoid depleting their savings.
The athletic center will be located on the lot adjacent to the district building and will house a multitude of different courts and practice areas for several different sports. Hansen advised that there will be several full-sized courts. There will be a pickleball court, full-size basketball court, volleyball court, tennis court, as well as a turf field for soccer and football. There will also be baseball and softball batting cages available.
Hansen advised that they are still in the design phase as they are currently in the middle of designing a designated space for golfers that will include golf simulators. [ETV News]
Pickleball, one of the fastest-growing sports in the United States, is gaining momentum in the CSRA. A local doctor is proposing a new tennis and pickleball facility in Augusta.
District 3 Commissioner Catherine Smith-Rice has expressed interest in Richmond County being involved in the project. However, she emphasized that the initiative should not take away from Augusta’s existing Newman Tennis Center.
"Everybody's going to Columbia County to play pickleball," Smith-Rice said. "I do know that Rome, Georgia, has this, and it's done exceptionally well. Macon has it too. Augusta is the second-largest city; we do need pickleball."
Currently, the facility remains a proposal. The Augusta Commission is set to review the project at the end of March to determine whether the city will participate in its development. [Fox54]
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