The latest news on the planned county aquatic center was met with much enthusiasm at the September 7 regular meeting of the Henry County Board of Commissioners.
The presentation by county officials Jonathon Penn and Lynn Planchon included a video of the proposed design for the facility and was met with applause from those in attendance at the meeting. It was reported that the project is moving ahead at a steady pace with a goal of being completed in time for the start of the 2024 summer season.
Calling it “the Disney World of the south,” Penn said he believes the center will attract tournaments and other events while adding a solid boost to overall quality of life for county residents. He listed such outdoor amenities as a lazy river, an outdoor play pool, kids’ apparatus, wave rider and rooftop terrace along with food trucks and a concession area. The inside is expected to include a 50-meter competitive pool which will allow a number of competitions to be hosted in Henry County, as well as a therapeutic recreation pool.
The aquatic center is one of the capital projects to be funded by the most recent special-purpose local option sales tax which was approved by voters. The budget for the facility is $22 million.
Commissioners expressed their excitement about the project while also nothing their concern that all potential costs are accounted for.
“We asked you to make Henry County second to none and you have made us second to none with this presentation,” said Vivian Thomas.
“I want to know the price tag. I say that to say that we need to be on top of that right away,” said Dee Clemmons. “I want us to be transparent and open. Whatever we need to, we have to make sure we get this facility done.”
Planchon, the county’s SPLOST capital projects director, informed the board that the county is currently ahead of schedule on projected revenue collections regarding the sales tax and that other funding sources such as impact fees will also be available. She said the aquatic center is expected to be self-sufficient.
The commissioners voted in April to develop the aquatic center on the site of the Cotton Fields golf course just east of I-75 in McDonough, which has been county-owned property for more than a decade.
The design is expected to be finished by mid-December, with construction bids being solicited in early 2023.
“The goal is to have the project complete and open for Memorial Day 2024,” said Planchon. “This is an aggressive schedule, although it could be impacted by weather and material delays.”
