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A state evaluation says that land near Shelbyville Municipal Airport is the best site for a proposed soccer/athletic complex, the city's park board learned Monday.
The concept was a topic of discussion at last week's Shelbyville study session, with two council members, Lee Roy Cunningham and Al Stephenson, wanting to build a complex on land owned by the city's power, water and sewer utility located behind a residential area on South Brittain St.
Other members of the city council suggested building on 42 acres of land close to the airport. Informed sources tell the T-G that residents of South Brittain Street are organizing a petition opposed to building the sports facility behind their homes.
The evaluation was conducted recently by Tennessee Department of Environment and Conservation, Recreation Educational Services (RES), which worked with the city to conduct a half-day review of the two proposed sites.
According to the report, the airport site has a list of a dozen positive components, while the location near the city water plant has seven negative components.
Positive aspects of the airport location are the size; accessibility to a four-lane highway; flat land, requiring little pre-construction work; and the fact that a well-lit facility would have little impact on surrounding residents.
Other pluses for the airport site are eligibility for a possible grant fund match; projected growth in the area; and a lack of nearby park and recreation facilities. The area is visually appealing, according to the report, and would offer a good site for a walking trail.
The site would not impact downtown traffic, is owned by the city and is connected to other city-owned land, so room for growth would not be blocked by development.
The only negative component noted for the airport site is that it would require the construction of a road to connect the proposed park to an established road.
The proposed water plant site lists two positive aspects: Size in acreage and the property would be eligible for a possible grant fund match. But it also has a list of negative components.
The site is adjacent to established residents and the construction of roads would be required to connect the proposed park to existing roadways, which would require the purchasing of some of the homes on South Brittain St.
Traffic from the sports complex would create a bottleneck and require street upgrades. Also, lighting from the facility would have a negative impact on the homes on South Brittain.
The land is question rests on a natural slope that leads to the Duck River, which would require leveling for the playing fields. "Leveling of land could lead to a dramatic increase in flooding," the report reads. The water plant would also require a "substantial amount of fencing."
The only neutral component was in reference to "homeland security issues due to large crowds and city's water supply."
Parks and Recreation Director Sylvia Pinson said her department is "excited that people are talking about soccer fields because we need them here." The department contacted the RES staff to look at the two sites because "they are the professionals," Pinson said.
The evaluation stated that Shelbyville has "a nice problem" in that the city's parks and recreation department has a choice in determining the best site or sites.
The report did not take public input into consideration. The city is encouraged to hold public meetings to allow citizen feedback based on the report's findings.
The demand for new facilities would need to be studied, the report says.
"The last thing a community should want to do is invest community dollars into a site and facilities just to appease a certain population, political agenda or because we have 'free' land," the report reads.
The report does not address the environmental impacts of either site and stated that more research should be conducted.
"Just because a site 'looks' appealing and that no environmental issues 'appear' on the surface, doesn't mean problems do not exist ..." the report reads. The report also does not contain any economic analysis, estimated infrastructure costs or revenue impacts.
Look at what happens to your home when you leave your kids their for a week.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HQLjwwYPRoI&feature...
Parents will not be happy but, the kids are "TOTALLY" having fun all day and night.
If this new park complex comes about maybe it can have a big waterslide, or a big slide (with out the water) to slide down on those Big weaved bags they use in sack races. Just a thought, something different added to this park complex.
Ohwell, you posted right when I was finishing my post. I did not know you were there. I must thought you up since my first word in my last post was "Well". : )
I think teachers deserves a pay raise too. I also see what jaxspike and a few others are concerned with. Maybe we have to many things going on at one time, and need to focus on one project, like finishing the schools first. I'm curious to know what district will be going to the new Learning Way Elementary School.
Well, they were complaining not to long ago, that they need to watch their spending. So perhaps they do need to wait and see how things go in the next year or two. I agree.
jaxspike, you seem to have a real problem with this whole sports complex issue. You stated that you do not play soccer nor baseball, so this complex won't benefit you. Obviously, you do not have kids or grandkids that participate in sports, or you would hopefully be a little more supportive and understand the side that the parents of these kids are taking.
As far as the new schools being built, the development is on the table and in place. The new elementary school is soon to begin construction and so is the addition to Community school. If you are unaware, an addition to both Cascade and Liberty are in the works. So, the school plans are being taken care of.
I do agree that teachers should receive a pay increase, but some of this money comes from the state. We can't put all the blame of teacher pay on the county. BTW-I am a teacher in Bedford County, so of course I would support a pay raise and school development!
The only problem with them focusing on growth on North Main Street and 231 is the fact that they are ignoring Madison Street and it is slowly becoming a ghost area. It is sad to see a nice shopping center like the one that use to contain Bi-Lo have only two tenants and remain almost empty and then the old Kroger shopping center is slowly going into decay while restaurants start to pack up and move to North Main. Everything is so crammed on North Main that it is hard to get in and out without being in an accident.
It just boggles my mind that the local government seems clueless on the real issues and would rather waste money on other things that are not as important.
BobM, I have noticed alot of graffiti on buildings lately too. I wish something was done about that. Maybe more video cameras aimed at the buildings from telephone poles to catch the people responsible for it, and make them clean them all up.
About the non-english speaking people attending schools and ER; What do you think the city and county mayor are able to do about this situation? I do not believe they have authority over non-english speaking people attending the schools or ER. If they are illegal yes. But how will they know they are illegal?
The schools enroll children, they have to fill out a registration form with their Name, Soc. Sec., their Race, and wether or not they are American or Immigrant. Does the school board members, or staff do background checks? If not perhaps they should. The same with ER; you have to fill out papers with Name, Soc. Sec., Address, Ins. info, etc. Do they do a background check? If not perhaps they should; as well as employers which normally do have background checks done. A non-American name would be one that could be illegal. Law officails would need to make this a regular routine for public businesses, industries, schools, etc. to do a routine background check for the status of illegal, or not. This will no doubt probably cost more money to do.
All the truly serious issues we have here in town and our elected officials waste time on a project to replicate several existing facilities.
In case anyone hasnt noticed, gang type graffiti is popping up all over town.
Our schools are being overrun by non English speaking attendees who for the most part only detract from those who are there to learn.
Been to our ER location lately? Take a translation book with you, spanish to English.
All of these issues are here and expand because NONE of our elected officials now or prior wish to deal with them.
WE of Tennessee have ms-13 in Nashville, 60 short miles up the road. ms-13 is one of the most ruthless gangs anywhere.
One of their highest attractions are concentrations of illegals which we certainly have.
Does our city or county Mayor care? By their actions or lack thereof apparently not.
Do any of our other elected officials care?
I am aware of only one and the hands of that office are so tightly tied that any action is virtually impossible.
WAKE UP PEOPLE. If we dont, our town will end up looking like too many, barred windows, kids unable to play outside with the streets owned by the animals after dark.
I believe they are trying to get more growth going on further down 231 N. Their are Industrial work plants there, the new hospital and nursing home, now a new park complex in the making. Their will probably be some new subdivisions going up over their this summer too. If they are nice looking with some yard, and not piled up on top of each other, but yet still affordable, they will probably sell good. If they had schools out that way it would really begin to grow. Their are alot of people that travel from here to Murfreesboro, and even Nashville for work, that would probably like to move further out 231 N. If this is what they are planning (Growth out 231 N) then I can see this as positive. Also maybe the ball parks, (Soccer, baseball, etc) are full, and too crowded.
I know I was looking to buy another home last year, and was wanting to move out toward 231 N, for a closer shot to Murfreesboro but also wanted to be close to the park for my kids. "Couldn't have it both ways".
If the growth issue is not a reason, and their is still plenty of room at the present park complex, then I suggest wait and tackle more needy issues.
Ohwell, since I don't play soccer or baseball then it definitely does not benefit me(btw . . we already have a nice walking trail at the main park and another one at Wartrace and neither is used as much as it should be). I hope they see reasoning and put this off when the county and city actually have the money to waste on luxuries like that. Building the new schools the next few years should take main priority until then (and unlike soccer fields, schools actually benefit EVERYONE!).
Thank you, thank you, thank you to the city of Shelbyville for getting the ball rolling on a new sports complex! It is wonderful that the land on 231 is being considered. This will be a wonderful area for the complex. Also, it will be nice to have the softball/baseball fields and the walking trail. There will be something for everyone to enjoy.
I absolutely agree redddj . . . first we need to make sure that we have the ability to pay for school construction program we have going on and various other things. I love seeing the park system being upgraded and expanded but in these economic times we need to be more fiscally conservative and look at our true priorities. It boggles my mind that they would consider spending half a million dollars on soccer fields but yet cant find the funds to add more teachers to the school program or give them a well deserved raise.
It is always good to see activities added to the park system. Shelbyville certainly has one of the nicest parks within the state.
However as we face economic situations within our personal life and with the added cost for education facilities is this the time to add more upkeep to the city?
I would hope that with the downturn of the economy we might see a reduction in our property tax with the reduction of the value of property. The tax decrease will never happen and we will continue to see additions added to the city wish list and property tax will continue to rise.
I am all for seeing the city grow but think we need to take a "wait and see approach" for now.