Rhea County has been awarded $1,568,399 for the creation of a new recreation area – the Abel Sports Complex – to be located at Delaware Avenue in Dayton, behind Rhea Elementary School. The project is being done in cooperation with the city of Dayton and the state of Tennessee. Kim Schofinski, deputy communications director at Tennessee Department of Environment and Conservation announced this Thursday.
County Executive Jim Vincent began working on this with then Dayton City Manager Tommy Solomon back in February of this year. The cornerstone of the park is the TCAT school being constructed by the state on 20 acres of the Abel property. The sports complex will be on the remaining acreage.
The project includes construction of five rectangular fields for soccer, an ADA-compliant multi-use non-motorized track, ADA-compliant parking and ADA-compliant restrooms.
Mr. Vincent said that this was a great opportunity for Rhea County. This is a matching grant. What’s beautiful about it is the state is using our land as our part of the grant. It’s a sweet deal for Rhea County. “This whole community deserves an ‘atta-boy’ for getting this project together,” Mr. Vincent said. “The pieces ended up falling into place with all of the different groups working together.”
Mr. Vincent was quick to point out that this was a project with great cooperation from a lot of people. “We have had a great cooperation with the city of Dayton, not only the city manager but the council as well. And it extends on to our State Rep. Ron Travis and State Senator Adam Lowe. And Governor Lee. I asked the governor to remember Rhea County for projects.” He went on to say that he appreciates that Governor Lee has a desire to develop rural counties in Tennessee. “I really appreciate that. He told us that when he was campaigning, and I want to publicly thank him.”
“Rhea County is absolutely thrilled to be receiving the Abel Sports Complex, thanks to the investment being made by TDEC,” said Rep. Travis. “This new space will provide new opportunities for individuals and families of all ages to play, relax, and create lasting memories. Our community anticipates its completion and is eager to enjoy its state-of-the-art facilities.” Rep. Travis went on to add that it’s great to see the level of cooperation between not only Rhea County and Dayton, but also the state agencies. “This just shows that when we work together the good that we can get done for everyone.
"This is a wonderful project for the citizens of not only Rhea County but the surrounding counties as well. This will be a gem of the community that will not only be a sports attraction, but will also attract industry,” said Rep. Travis.
“I am very pleased funding has been awarded to create a new sports complex in Rhea County and upgrades to sports fields in McMinn County,” said Senator Lowe. “Our ball parks offer a great opportunity for children and adults to get active and make lasting memories. I appreciate the work done by our local officials in submitting a successful grant application and look forward to seeing the improvements.”
Tennessee Governor Lee and the Tennessee Department of Environment and Conservation announced a total of $26,501,705.74 has been awarded to 32 communities across Tennessee for local parks and recreation projects as the governor travels statewide touting conservation investments.
"From Mountain City to Memphis, our state is blessed with natural beauty and rich resources,” Governor Lee said. “These investments are critical in providing outdoor experiences for Tennesseans to enjoy for generations to come, and I appreciate the Tennessee General Assembly’s partnership in this effort.”
Funding is made possible through the Local Parks and Recreation Fund. Administered by TDEC’s Division of Recreation Resources, LPRF funds may be used for the purchase of land for parks, natural areas, greenways, and the purchase of land for recreational facilities. LPRF is a competitive grant program and provides funds via reimbursements for awarded projects with qualified expenses.