The effort to give Warner Robins Recreation a fresh look continued Monday as the city broke ground on its newest project.
“Let's turn some dirt!” Mayor Randy Toms declared Monday morning at Tanner Park.
It could be the official motto of the Warner Robins Recreation Department.
As the buzzer sounded on one project, they kicked off another one and instead of pads, used shovels and hardhats.
Monday’s ceremony broke ground on a $3.4 million renovation project at Tanner Park located behind the Houston County Annex building and Houston County Sheriff’s Office.
Recreation Director Jarred Reneau says it feels good to be moving quickly.
“Most of all, it's just the fact of being able to finally turn some dirt and do something and make those promises come true for the citizens of Warner Robins and Houston County,” Reneau says.
Since taking over the department about a year and a half ago, the team's moved several projects into the end zone.
Reneau’s department completed work at Fountain Park pool, Ada Lee Park, helped complete the city’s first dog park, and is actively working on plans for other park improvements across the city.
The newly started renovations will turn Tanner Park into a football and track complex.
It will have four football fields, three with lights for evening games and another with a track. Reneau says that way the city can host track and field events.
Mayor Randy Toms says it could be a piece of the puzzle that keeps kids away from crime.
“Give 'em something to do, not just give them something to do to keep them from doing something bad, but give them something to do to show the value that they have for our community,” Toms says.
The Mayor also says that volunteers at parks and sporting events can have a positive impact on children’s lives and potentially keep them out of trouble.
In the past, other City Council members expressed support for parks in an effort to deter crime.
That’s not all, Toms says the recent improvements at Simpson Park and planned upgrades at Tanner Park could bring in new business as people play ball.
“We think every facility that we're developing is going to have some kind of economic impact as we bring teams from all over the state, all over the region, into our facilities to participate in tournament ball,” Toms says.
The city just reopened Simpson Park for baseball after spending $120,000 renovating the diamonds with new fencing, new paint, and general clean-up of the facilities.
Reneau was also excited to announce that the city's once independent baseball league is now chartered with the Little League World Series facility near Highway 96 in Houston County. The Little League Southeast Region Headquarters are located there.
It means the city's baseball-playing seven to twelve-year-olds now have a chance at a trip to Williamsport and national TV.
Renovations at Tanner are expected to be completed in September, just in time for fall kickoff.