Cobb, Powder Springs leaders break ground on $10M sports complex
Powder Springs and county leaders are celebrating the start of a project developers and elected officials believe could spur economic development in the south Cobb city.
A groundbreaking ceremony was held Tuesday for the Westside Woods Sports Complex, which is set to open on Hill Road at C.H. James Parkway in August 2020.
The $10 million project on 22 acres will feature an indoor soccer field and a 40,000-square-foot building with offices, concessions area, bar, conference rooms and retail space.
The outdoor amenities for Westside Woods include three lighted turf soccer fields and two futsal courts that can also be used for pickleball. Futsal is similar to soccer, but is played on a basketball court with five-member teams and a low-bounce ball, the U.S. Youth Futsal's website states.
Powder Springs Mayor Al Thurman said the city’s excitement “reaches a new height as we celebrate” the groundbreaking for the project, which opens the door for development on the C.H. James Parkway corridor.
RELATED | $10M sports complex to break ground in Cobb County
“It puts us on the map for world-class soccer year round, esports tournaments and events,” he said. “We also look forward to the participation of city residents in local sports programs to be developed for our youth and adults. The Westside Woods Sports Complex is truly a win-win partnership, progressing and preserving our community character.”
Longtime Powder Springs residents David and Laurie van Gelder are two of the principals behind the development. Laurie is the owner and CEO of Westside Woods, and David serves as chief financial officer.
Laurie van Gelder said they believe the complex would meet a “great need for a lot of people in the community.”
“We think it’s going to be very suitable for this area, we think it’s going to help the area continue to grow, I think it’s going to be very good for businesses in this area, and we welcome businesses to approach us and talk to us about opportunities that they may have with us,” David van Gelder added.
You can learn more about the project by visiting the Westside Woods website.
Like Cobb County News Now on Facebook | Follow on Twitter
About the Author
Kristal Dixon covers Cobb and DeKalb county schools for The Atlanta Journal-Constitution. Before joining the AJC, Dixon worked for Patch.com and the Cherokee Tribune in Canton.
