A cloudless, sun-drenched day was the perfect setting for the sea of jerseys that descended on the new jewel of Columbus on Saturday morning.
The Columbus Soccer Complex at Tanyard Park hosted more than a thousand players, coaches, parents and local dignitaries for the opening ceremonies of the state-of-the-art soccer and football complex.
The day began with a parade as over 500 youth athletes and coaches made their way through the new complex and onto the championship fields, immediately north of the Hitching Lot Farmers Market.
Columbus-Lowndes Recreation Authority Executive Director Roger Short took to the stage to address the gathered crowd.
“What you see on this field is our future,” Short said.
He went on to explain the long road it took to get from the dream of a sports complex to the reality of putting the players on the field.
Lowndes County Supervisor Harry Sanders, Columbus Mayor Robert Smith and CLRA Board President Scott Hannon also addressed the fidgety crowd of youngsters.
“Let’s get on the field and play some soccer,” Hannon said, drawing hearty cheers and applause from the eager players.
With 55 soccer teams and 21 football teams, more than 650 youth are enrolled in sports programs through CLRA.
Players from each team paired with a city representative to help kick the first balls into a goal on Weyerhaeuser Field.
The first games kicked off at 11 a.m. with both soccer and football games continuing throughout the day.
Adult flag football began play at 6 p.m.
“My family has anxiously awaited this day…the opening of the new soccer complex,” said Jennifer David, on hand to watch her daughter, Mary Kathryn, play soccer. “We are so proud of our city and county leaders for coming together to build this beautiful facility.”
Mary Kathryn, 9, has played soccer since she was four. She is coached by her father, Chris David and plays in the U-10 league.
“I love soccer because I learn new things every year to get better,” she said. ” My favorite position is goalie. I like meeting new people and making lots of friends.”
Ashli Dunn is the mother of eight-year-old Taylor Wheeler and said both she and her daughter were impressed with the new park.
“Taylor has really enjoyed playing soccer the last few years,” Ashli Dunn said. “She improves every year. She had a great time today at the new soccer complex and I was impressed with the new facility. I think it will be great for the community.”
CLRA Program Director Greg Lewis said he was proud of the number of parents and community members who came out to show support for the young athletes.
“Today was a huge success,” Lewis said, beaming. “The turnout was great. Today was a great kickoff into the future of a soccer program that we’re going to start here in Columbus.”
While many community leaders were in attendance, some were on the field as coaches.
Municipal Court Judge Marc Amos is the assistant coach of his daughter Abby’s team, American Eurocopter U-12.
“Our community leaders did an incredible job building this soccer environment. They improved our quality of life, and at the same time created additional economic opportunities for Columbus and Lowndes County,” Amos said. ” Having coached and watched soccer at venues all over Mississippi, I can assure you that our soccer park has no equal in the state. We will reap the benefits from this investment for decades to come.”
That investment cost Lowndes County nearly $5 million, with the city of Columbus donating 20 of the 70 acres as well as in-kind services to ready the park for opening day. Thirty-one acres are currently being used to house 10 soccer fields, which can be divided into two dozen smaller fields.
Lewis said an expansion of the park is possible as the need for growth occurs over the years. The next phase of the park includes building a concession stand near the front fields as well as adding bathrooms. For the time being, Columbus Main Street has agreed to allow the soccer complex to use the restrooms located at The Hitching Lot Farmers Market.
There is a concession stand and bathroom on the back fields where the younger age groups play.
There are also 331 parking spaces, with lots available for overflow.
The complex will be used nearly year-round with both games and tournaments.
Lewis will begin putting in bids for tournaments in January.
Sarah Fowler covered crime, education and community related events for The Dispatch.
You can help your community
Quality, in-depth journalism is essential to a healthy community. The Dispatch brings you the most complete reporting and insightful commentary in the Golden Triangle, but we need your help to continue our efforts. In the past week, our reporters have posted 41 articles to cdispatch.com. Please consider subscribing to our website for only $2.30 per week to help support local journalism and our community.