Through years and years of devoting accommodations tax money - that state-authorized revenue cities and counties can receive from taxes on hotel/motel rooms to promote tourism - the City of Clinton has built and is maintaining, and last Tuesday afternoon dedicated, its new Recreation Complex.
Located on Hwy 56, just beyond the Clinton Presbyterian Community and before the intersection with I-26, near the I-385 split, the Recreation Complex is a maze of multi-purpose fields, baseball/softball diamonds, picnic shelters, a splash pad and, in the future, walking and biking trails. It will play host in November to an on-grass-volleyball tournament. The splash pad can operate between 10:30 a.m. and 6:30 p.m., and the City has plans soon to add a playground.
“This is a special moment that we have all been waiting on forever,” said City Manager Joey Meadors at the City- and Laurens County Chamber of Commerce-sponsored opening ceremony. The City already has dedicated one of the baseball/softball diamond to a veteran sports official and community leader, Truman Owens.
“We’ve got a lot of plans for this recreation complex - baseball, soccer we already have, and we are working hard to get other activities out here,” Meadors said.
Mayor Randy Randall said the City decided many years ago to devote accommodations tax money to this project, but faced many hurdles.
“We started with accommodations tax money, for seed money, for a big rec complex; we had no idea where it was going to be, or when we were going to be able to build it. The rules changed on how you were able to spend that money every year; but, finally, it has come to a good ending, and a good beginning at the same time. We have a wonderful relationship with the Y and our recreation here in the city of Clinton. Without them, we really could not do the job that’s being done serving all the children in the whole town.”
The Clinton Family YMCA serves as the designated recreation agent for the City of Clinton. Opening the new Rec Center means the Y can move its successful Youth Soccer program from practice fields at Presbyterian College to its own, dedicated space.
Youth Soccer players were part of the ribbon-cutting, and many more soccer players and families were arriving for a later afternoon of competition as the official ceremony concluded.
Harold Nichols, CEO of the Clinton Family YMCA, said, “On behalf of everybody at the Clinton Family YMCA, we are honored to be a part of this very special day. For generations, the Y has played an important role in providing recreation and opportunities for young people and families of our community.”
The Y has a scholarship program to assist families with multiple children/players in its rec programs with costs. Donations to this scholarship program are accepted by the Y (https://clintonymca.org/).
“As your recreation provider for the City of Clinton, we take that responsibility very seriously; and this new recreation complex represents an exciting new chapter in our ability to serve this community. This facility is a result of a continuing and meaningful partnership between the City of Clinton and the Clinton Family YMCA; together, we share a vision of providing quality recreation opportunities and creating common experiences for our children and families and building a stronger community.
“We are grateful to the City of Clinton, our elected officials, the community leaders, contractors, staff, donors, supporters, and everyone who played a role in bringing this vision to life. Today, we celebrate, we celebrate more than just a beautiful new recreation complex — we celebrate what can happen when a city and its YMCA work together with a shared commitment to serving their community. We’re exciting about the games that are going to be played here, the memories that will be made here, and the generations of young people that will benefit from this facility moving forward. Thank you to everyone who made this day possible, and congratulations to the entire Clinton community.”
The Recreation Complex is at 512 Belle Acres Drive, Clinton.
