Construction has kicked off on Cherokee County’s newest park set to serve the populous southwest portion of the county.

Cherokee Parks and Recreation Agency Director Bryan Reynolds says silt-fence work is underway at the 33-acre Patriots Park off Kellogg Creek Road, with site grading to begin soon. The $5.9 million facility is being built by Integrated Construction and Nobility of Whitesburg.

Reynolds says the park breaks new ground in that it will have an adapted-use artificial turf baseball field designed for athletes of all abilities. It will be the first of its kind in Cherokee, he said. The park will also feature two traditional baseball/softball fields, a walking track, dog park, playground and an open meadow.

Completion is set for late 2016.