The Hall County Board of Commissioners announced at Thursday’s commission meeting it will partner with the Board of Education to build a recreational facility at the new school site near Spout Springs Road.
"This is an example of how governments can work together for the benefit of all the communities," Commission Chairman Tom Oliver said.
The commission and the Board of Education have successfully worked together before on similar projects at three other locations: Chestatee, Flowery Branch and East Hall.
"It has been good for the community, good for children, and I really applaud the commissioners and the Board of Education for being forward thinking," said Superintendent Will Schofield.
The facility will include soccer, baseball and softball fields as well as tennis courts and a centrally located restroom and storage facility, Schofield said.
By building multiple fields in one location, taxpayers will save roughly $4 million, Commissioner Bobby Banks said.
A recreational facility was originally going to be built on 20 acres off of J.M. Turk Road in addition to the facility that would be built at the new high school.
"You eliminate putting ball fields two miles apart and put them all over at the high school," Banks said. "It would be duplicating the services, and it’s crazy to do that."
It will likely be built in phases dependent upon available funds, "but that’s where the growth is," Schofield said. "The amount they’re contributing ought to get us pretty close to completing all of that. From there we’ll add the additional fields as money becomes available."
The county will provide $1.2 million in SPLOST money to the project.
"It’s just a great use of the taxpayers’ money, and it’s great for the kids of Hall County," School Board Chairman Richard Higgins said at the meeting.