GADSDEN, AL — Gadsden State Community College and the City of Gadsden broke ground Aug. 20 on a new 10-court tennis center at the Gadsden Sports Park.
The project is the latest addition to the Sports Park and continues a partnership between the college and the city to develop athletic facilities designed to serve Gadsden State student-athletes and the surrounding community.
“This project is another great example of what can happen when we work together to invest in our students and our community,” Gadsden State President Alan Smith said. “These courts will provide an outstanding home for our student-athletes while also creating a resource that can be enjoyed by the community. We are grateful to the City of Gadsden, the Alabama Community College System (ACCS), and all of our partners who continue to invest in this campus and in the future of our region.”
The tennis center will include 10 new courts at the Gadsden Sports Park, located behind Gadsden State’s Wallace Drive Campus along the Coosa River.
The project follows other efforts by Gadsden State and the City of Gadsden to expand and improve the Sports Park and increase its capacity for athletics and recreation.
“The City of Gadsden and Gadsden State have had a fantastic partnership for years, and this Gadsden Sports Park project is just a continuation of that,” Gadsden Mayor Craig Ford said. “I wouldn’t be where I am today without Gadsden State, and the college has been crucial in improving the lives of Gadsden residents and helping recruit industry to the city. I want to thank President Alan Smith and the Gadsden State staff, Chancellor Jimmy Baker and the Alabama Community College System, our city employees, the contractors and everyone else involved in making this state-of-the-art facility possible.”
Representatives from Gadsden State, the City of Gadsden and the Alabama Community College System participated in the Aug. 20 groundbreaking ceremony.
Speakers included Smith; Ford; Heath Williamson, director of engineering for the City of Gadsden; Mark Salmon, chief facilities officer for the Alabama Community College System; and representatives from Milam & Co. and Chambless King Architects.
Following the remarks, representatives participated in a ceremonial groundbreaking for the project.
“This facility represents more than new tennis courts. It represents another shared investment in Gadsden,” Smith said. “Partnerships like this allow us to create opportunities that extend beyond our campuses and reinforce Gadsden State’s commitment to being A College for the Community.”
