HEALTH & FITNESS
Kennesaw breaks ground on
Adams Park Recreation Center
By Ryan Kolakowski
Digging golden shovels into
a strip of loose dirt, Kennesaw
Mayor Derek Easterling and nine
other local officials broke ground
on a new recreation center at
Adams Park in July 2020, kicking
off the yearlong construction of
the new athletic facility.
The approximately $11 million
center, which will be built in two
phases, is funded by a special
purpose local option sales tax.
During phase one of construction,
scheduled to be completed
within 13 months, the city will
build a 25,000-square-foot
facility with two basketball
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courts, a fitness room and office
space. Phase two, adding another
17,000 square feet to the center,
will feature a third basketball
court, gymnastics space and
meeting space.
The city will use 2016 SPLOST
funds to pay for phase one of
the recreation center, which will
cost approximately $7 million,
according to city documents.
The Kennesaw City Council
approved the 2016 SPLOST
reallocation during its July 6
meeting. The city plans to use
2022 SPLOST funds to pay for
phase two of construction.
“I want to make sure that I
thank the citizens of Kennesaw
Local officials break ground on the Adams Park recreation center. - Ryan Kolakowski
and Cobb County for voting
yes on the 2016 SPLOST,” said
Kennesaw Parks and Recreation
Director Steve Roberts. “Without
SPLOST dollars, it would be
impossible for us to build these
types of buildings that affect and
benefit so many people. Adding
the recreation center to our city
amenities will be a blessing to this
community.”
Adams Park, a 33-acre community
park located at the
intersection of Watts Drive and
Cobb Parkway, currently has
six baseball fields, four softball
fields, a soccer field, two tennis
courts, and other amenities like
picnic pavilions and shelters.
Roberts said the addition of the
recreation center will allow his
department to host new sports,
expand summer camps and start
an after-school program.
“The building will allow our
department to grow and serve a
larger number of people in this
city,” Roberts said.
Easterling thanked Cobb
County officials for their support
in planning the new center. He
said the city is providing something
citizens have asked for.
“When it’s all said and done,
a little over $11 million is going
to be spent on this facility that’s
going to benefit everybody,”
Easterling said. “The biggest word
I want you to take away from this,
and everything else the city of
Kennesaw has done, is ‘opportunity.’
Opportunity abounds in
Kennesaw.”
Cobb County Parks Director
Jimmy Gisi said local parks and
recreation departments play a
huge role in crafting memories
for young people, and the city
of Kennesaw should be excited
about this recreation center.
“I know Steven (Roberts) and
his staff will do a great job with
it,” Gisi said. “I’m really excited,
and I can’t wait to be back for
the ribbon-cutting here in just a
little while.”
About 45 people gathered for
July’s groundbreaking, and the
city streamed the event live on its
Facebook page.
After Kennesaw city council
members delivered remarks, Easterling
called on officials, including
Gisi and Cobb Commissioner
Keli Gambrill, to pick up their
shovels and “throw some dirt.”
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