News Summary
The Augusta Commission is evaluating a significant $80 million project that aims to create a sports facility with 66 courts for pickleball and tennis. Proposed by Dr. Troy Akers, the initiative has sparked discussions around funding sources and potential impacts on existing facilities. While Akers seeks a $7 million contribution from the city, key city officials express concerns about financial implications and diverting funds from established centers. The proposed complex promises extensive economic benefits but faces scrutiny regarding its long-term viability.
Augusta – The Augusta Commission is currently considering a proposal for an ambitious $80 million facility that would include 66 courts dedicated to pickleball and tennis, an initiative presented by Dr. Troy Akers in February 2025. This major development project has sparked varying reactions among city leaders, particularly concerning its funding sources amidst existing commitments to other city facilities.
Dr. Akers seeks just under $7 million from the city, representing less than 10 percent of the overall project costs. The funding proposal has been suggested to tap into sales tax revenues already earmarked for the Newman Tennis Center. However, some city officials, notably Commissioner Catherine Smith Rice, have raised concerns about diverting essential funds away from the existing facility, insisting that the Newman Tennis Center must retain its funding.
The project was met with skepticism by the reviewing committee, which recommended that the commission reject the proposal, citing the inability to reallocate funds that are already designated for the Newman Tennis Center. Despite this recommendation, the Augusta Commission opted to allow Akers’ team to engage in discussions with city officials regarding potential collaboration and local support for the new complex. Mayor Pro-Tem Wayne Guilfoyle emphasized that any financial commitments would be structured to protect taxpayers by utilizing bonded funds.
The proposed complex would include 18 championship-size tennis courts and 48 pickleball courts, with half of the pickleball courts housed indoors. Additionally, plans feature a hotel and a 15,000-square-foot gym complete with a walking track. Akers predicts that the project has the potential to create approximately 875 jobs, including direct and indirect employment opportunities.
Significantly, Akers estimates a $182 million economic impact over five years, positioning Augusta as a notable destination for sports and recreation. However, city officials have voiced concerns over the financial viability of the facility, particularly regarding uncertain revenue projections associated with court rentals and tournament hosting.
The proposal stipulates that tennis courts would be leased to the city for a nominal fee of $1, with the city responsible for maintenance, taxes, and utility costs, raising questions about long-term financial implications. Akers has expressed a commitment to enhancing tennis and pickleball in Richmond County rather than replacing existing facilities, underlining his goal of fostering community engagement in sports.
Akers, who owns the Dink’d indoor pickleball facility in Columbia County, brings a wealth of experience from successful ventures, including Crumbl Cookies and the Wetzel’s Pretzels food truck operating in the Augusta area. This background may strengthen the proposal’s credibility as city officials evaluate its potential.
The development budget may also incorporate plans for a sizable “convention center” and ample parking spaces. Moreover, initial discussions about possibly sharing the facility space with Augusta University and Augusta Technical College are exploring opportunities for collaborative use, though these talks remain in the preliminary stages.
As the Augusta Commission weighs its options, city officials are actively seeking alternative funding solutions to ensure that this significant project can materialize without jeopardizing current commitments to established facilities like the Fleming Tennis Center and the Newman Tennis Center. The outcome of these deliberations will be crucial in determining the future of both the proposed complex and Augusta’s standing as a destination for sports.
Deeper Dive: News & Info About This Topic
HERE Resources
Augusta Approves Improvements for Diamond Lakes Park
Augusta Commission Approves Improvements at Diamond Lakes Park
Augusta-Richmond County Allocates Funds for Diamond Lakes Park Enhancements
Augusta Officials Consider Rejecting Pickleball Complex Proposal
Augusta Athletics Partners with DiNK’D Pickleball for Community Engagement
Augusta’s Downtown Safety Improvements After Shooting
Augusta Athletics Partners with DiNK’D Pickleball
Downtown Augusta Businesses Unite Against Bike Lane Proposal
Major Renovations Planned for Augusta University Softball Field
Joe Biden Diagnosed with Prostate Cancer
Additional Resources
- WJBF: Augusta Commission Keeps Tennis-Pickleball Proposal Alive for Now
- Wikipedia: Tennis
- WRDW: Augusta Staffers Fight Investors’ Plan for $80M Tennis-Pickleball Complex
- Google Search: Pickleball
- Augusta Chronicle: New Augusta Tennis-Pickleball Courts Could Be a City Cash Cow
- Encyclopedia Britannica: Pickleball
- WRDW: Will New Pickleball Complex Come to Augusta?
- Google News: Augusta Pickleball
- The Augusta Press: Akers Proposes Pickleball Tennis Complex in West Augusta
