Home > Gwinnett > Rick Badie / My Opinion > Archives > 2008 > January > 09
Wednesday, January 9, 2008
” A community embraces its home”
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
I love that new car smell.
A sparkling new gymnasium smells pretty good, too. Must be the finish on the basketball court.
I inhaled it in Wednesday when the Badie Tour stopped by the new community recreation center at Lucky Shoals Park. It’s off Britt Road, near Tucker. A grand opening for the facility on Saturday attracted nearly 2,000 people.
And from the looks of things, the excitement and enthusiasm oozing from residents is expected to grow.
The park’s new face cost $6.5 million. Outdoor basketball courts and tennis courts were relocated, while volleyball and badminton courts were added. The gem of the project, though, is the community center/gymnasium. It’s expected to be the activity hub for an area that’s needed a recreational outlet - and equity from the county - for some time.
“It’s beautiful,” Steve Hunter wrote in an e-mail. “But it’s been on the drawing board for [several] years.”
Maybe that explains why residents are so jazzed up.
“Since Saturday, there have been people here everyday,” said Beth McWilliams, the programs supervisor. “As soon as the building opens at 9 a.m., people are here.”
The park is the home of The Mustangs, a recreational league for 4 to 14 year olds that has 17 basketball teams. More than 200 kids are expected to play soccer this season. Sports participation hasn’t always been high. My son played soccer there a few years back. His coach had to combine age groups to make a full team.
But sports aren’t expected to be the vehicle that makes or breaks the renewed park. The community center has a game room with a foosball table, air hockey table, pool table and board games. There’s room for meetings, classes and programs. An inaugural schedule graced the most recent edition of “Gwinnett Life,” the county parks publication.
“It will take time to tweak things to find out what the people want,” said Jim Cyrus, who oversees the county aquatics program.
This park’s physical amenities have always been popular. The playground stays packed. The 1.25-mile walking trail sees foot traffic from walkers, joggers and pet lovers.
Unfortunately, crime has found a home, too.
In 2003, a slaying took place in the parking lot. Just last year, a man attacked three women on the walking trail. Police described the attacks as attempted robberies; the suspect was not caught.
County officials downplay crime. They don’t think it will deter the renaissance.
“We have a good police presence, bike patrols,” said Cyrus. “I don’t think any of that will be an issue, really.”
I hope he’s right.
McWilliams, the programs supervisor, thinks patrons will behave.
“The community has been wanting this for so long,” she said. “Now that it’s here, they want to keep it nice. The best part of all of this is that people have embraced this. They’ve watched this building go up.
“It’s their home.”
Rick Badie’s column appears on Sundays, Tuesdays and Thursdays. Contact him at 770-263-3875 or e-mail rbadie@ajc.com.
Permalink | Comments (22) | Post your comment | Categories: Rick Badie
