Shannon J. Allen: Banquet celebrates opening of SMPA

This is an impression piece.

In late June 2020, Albertville Mayor Tracy Honea gave me a tour of the construction at Sand Mountain Park and Amphitheater and shared his vision of what he hoped the complex would become when completed.

Very last week, quite a few other people who contributed to the additional than $50 million project joined Tracy in celebrating his and their eyesight getting to be actuality, as SMPA performed its official grand opening.

On April 1, I experienced the prospect to show up at a banquet at the SMPA Physical fitness Heart, exactly where I figured out far more about the project from some of its important players.

John Chambless is just one of the entrepreneurs of Chambless King Architects, which has places of work in Montgomery and Birmingham. Partnering with the metropolis of Albertville to layout the venture, Chambless’ business used more than 100 engineers and style and design experts.

“Every square inch of this 130-acre park has been regarded as and made,” Chambless stated. “There’s a unity of eyesight this neighborhood shares which is one of a kind.”

Chambless King’s Michael Reveals was the guide designer for SMPA.

Sports Services Corporations, headquartered in Clearwater, Florida, manages SMPA. Jason Clement, a founding spouse and chief executive officer of Sporting activities Amenities Companies, came to Albertville for the grand opening weekend.

“This is the most fantastically developed sports activities complicated in the country,” Clement stated throughout the April 1 banquet.

“We operate in more than 2,500 communities throughout the nation. Only one group in the state has a elaborate like this. We glimpse at the mission of this elaborate as improving upon the well being and wellness, and the financial vitality, of the local community.

“Our team here is as superior a workforce as we’ve put alongside one another in any community.”

Primary the SMPA group is standard supervisor Patrick O’Brien, who described the park’s opening as a defining moment in the history of the metropolis of Albertville and the Sand Mountain region as a full.

O’Brien reported close to 2,000 young children across several sports activities will utilize SMPA from calendar year to 12 months.

“The park will be the focal place of the group on a every day basis because of to serving our youth and youngsters,” he stated. “We also challenge 40,000 check-ins at the Fitness Centre over the subsequent 12 months.

“In just a couple months, we’ll have employed shut to 200 employees. In 2021, we’ll host 80-moreover occasions. Each and every working day, we will enhance the high quality of everyday living in our local community.

“We experienced a journey … we had a seriously unique journey to get to this level. I’ve in no way witnessed a group this committed to recreation. Mayor Honea, your perseverance has gotten us right here.”

Tracy normally likes to give the credit to another person else, but he justifies praise for the part he performed in creating SMPA occur. He made positive anything was performed in a very first-course method and no corners were minimize in giving Albertville and Sand Mountain an amazing sports activities and enjoyment sophisticated.

“Our group thanks you for being fully commited to excellence,” O’Brien reported in his closing remarks at the banquet. “We’re just acquiring commenced. Our upcoming is so vivid.”

Shannon J. Allen is publisher for The Reporter. He can be achieved at [email protected].