The Winston County Journal

Residents in Winston County stand poised to offer a new recreation area thanks to a grant that aims to jump start phase I of a long-term building project in the city.

"An investment in the Louisville/Winston Rec Plex is an investment in the youth and community for quality of life," said Gerald Mills, Winston County Economic Development Director.

Mills, along with Mayor Daniel "Moe" Yarbrough, Will Hill, Carmen White and Joseph McCain attended a two-day state-sponsored granting writing workshop in June where they were awarded a $3,000 grant to get started on the Rec-Plex project.

In partnership with the city of Louisville, the Winston County Economic Development Authority and Winston County, the group plans to create an added recreational area to the community.

The proposal outlined Phase I of a long-term project to beautify and turn the area on Ball and Ivy purchased by the city into a recreational area featuring soccer fields and other activities.

"The first phase is to cleanup the area and plan a layout," Mayor Yarbrough explained.

City workers have cleaned up much of the area and have begun preparing the layout for use of soccer fields and other activities.

The city along with the WCEDP hope to get the whole community behind the project and plan a time when volunteers can help with the project as well as donate funds and supplies to the project.

"It will take a lot of money and we need the community's support," said Mayor Yarbrough denoting the city's tight funding needs at this time.

The goal of the project is to create an area used by at least 325 children in the community as well as create a site of soccer tournaments and other events from across the state.

Mills noted the economic impact the county could gain by hosting such events. He pointed to the many baseball tournaments that the community hosts and gains from economically.

"If we get fields in place and a soccer program built up, we could be a great site to host tournaments and fill up our hotels and restaurants," said Mills.

The Winston County representatives were part of the Appalachian Community Learning Project workshop created by the Rensselaerville Institute.

The project uses what it calls "citizen sparkplugs" to create the community change needed to jump start projects that benefit local communities.

The Rensselaerville Institute hopes by funding projects such as Rec Plex while help small communities build strategic development activities from a small beginning.

For more information about the Rec Plex project or to donate funds or gifts in kind contact "sparkplug' Gerald Mills at 773-3921.