In January 2023, the Leitchfield City Council expressed an interest in researching the possibility of the city constructing a recreation center/health plex on land across from the Leitchfield Aquatic Center donated by the Grayson County Healthcare Foundation.
“I feel this is something a community needs for various reasons,” Saltsman told the council at the time. “My vision … I thought two full size basketball courts that break down into four middle school courts, with drop down volleyball nets. This would allow us to host basketball and volleyball tournaments. Other uses for the courts would be pickle ball, archery, trade shows, cheer competitions, and honestly, the list could go on.”
Saltsman added that it is possible to have indoor tennis courts, an indoor soccer facility and batting cages for baseball and softball. A recreation center could also be used by Grayson County High School.
Mayor Harold Miller said at the time that he supports exploring the possibility of a recreation center, but said the city is currently in the “research phase.”
“It’s something that’s been rolled around in the community for a while. I think it’s needed in the community and I think it would be welcome in the community,” the mayor noted. “(But), we’re just in the research phase; looking at options. We’re very hopeful that we can get something like this done.”
Possible public forum
At Monday night’s city council meeting, Fentress, who prefers to refer to the potential facility as a “health plex with the option of using the facility for trade shows,” again brought up the idea.
“As you all know, the hospital foundation was kind enough to donate (to) us about 10 acres of land across from the aquatic center,” Fentress said. “Probably talking about a three-to-five-hundred-thousand-dollar piece of property I would suspect.”
Fentress noted, though, that a stipulation attached to the donation of the property was that “we would have, I think, three years to … commence construction. That time I think ends in August 2026.”
The possibility of being granted an extension of the deadline by the healthcare foundation, Fentress said, is possible if the city shows progress in developing the land.
“I would just like to get things started maybe a little bit on this to see; I think we have a lot of opportunity still for outside funding for this so the city wouldn’t have to fund the whole thing,” Fentress told the council.
He then floated the idea of having a public forum on the idea to gauge the community’s thoughts.
“My thinking was maybe we get some input from the citizens; maybe have a forum at the next city council meeting (to) see what the citizens think; if this is something they’re interested in doing,” Fentress said.
Miller responded that he has received positive feedback about the possibility of building the facility from community members, as well as those in state government who may be able to help secure funding.
“I have had discussions with several people in the community that are really behind this,” he said. “And I think with the help of some in the community and some of those in state government that we do have a real shot, all I can call it now is a shot. I think we have a shot to do something like this. And I think the community support would be strong for it. Obviously, we’ve gotten a good start with the property being donated. And we appreciate that.”
Miller was open to having a public forum on the issue, possibly at the Centre on Main, before adding that the city should reach out to those who may donate materials and/or funding to the project to gauge their interest in assisting the city.
No decision was made at the meeting regarding holding a public forum. K105 will have more information on this story as it becomes available.
By Ken Howlett, News Director
Contact Ken at ken@k105.com
