CLEVELAND, Ga. – The much-anticipated ribbon cutting and official opening of the new White County Park Recreation Center at Yonah Preserve was held Thursday evening, May 22, with around 350 people on hand for the event.
Prior to the ribbon cutting White County Commission Chairman Travis Turner shared with the crowd his excitement, “I want you to know when you see me smiling this evening, it’s not a show, it’s genuine and it’s heartfelt because on a personal level, I am thoroughly excited about what opportunity we’ve been afford to hear this afternoon to open up for our community,” said Turner.
Turner talked about the growth of the park and recreation program over the years. He said, back in 2020, they began planning for what is now a beautiful new building with a two-court gymnasium that can also serve as volleyball and pickleball courts, plus some additional staff office space.
The building has a covered outdoor seating area that looks out over two ball fields. Next to the new facility, construction is underway for a splash pad and an open-air pavilion.
Turner also told the crowd that this project, which also includes three new pickleball courts, will be debt-free when completed.
Commissioner Edwin Nix told the crowd that this facility is for this community, and he asked that they take care of it and enjoy it for years to come.
Following the open ceremony and a ribbon-cutting ceremony, people were able to tour the facility.
Local Charles Black Construction was the builder for the project, and Turner said, “ Charles Black Construction, to their credit, I have to say this, have reasonably tried their best to use so many local subcontractors from a local level. Our home folks.”
District two Commissioner Lyn Holcomb said, “ If you are out there and you are three years old or 103, we’ve got something for all of you to do here.”
