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Hogansville is getting a new park thanks in part to a grant from the Holland M. Ware Charitable Foundation.

The foundation approached Troup County about doing a recreation project in Hogansville. County Manager Eric Mosley said many ideas were discussed, but ultimately, the project that was landed on was a revamp of the old McGee Field.

McGee Field is located near the Active Life Senior Center and has remnants of a baseball field that has not seen much use in many years.

“There were a couple of family occasions where there would be family reunions, and they would play ball. But other than that, it was not used, and it has not been used for recreation for many, many years. It was just sitting as an idle park that was underutilized,” Hogansville City Manager Lisa Kelly said. 

 Mosley said the initial proposed donation from the Holland Ware Foundation is a million dollars. 

The foundation asked that the funds be matched dollar-to-dollar, so the county has tentatively agreed to match 50%, and the other 50% would come from Hogansville, making $2 million available for the project.

While the park was formerly utilized for baseball, the current plan is to build a practice soccer field that could also be used for football practice, along with a dog park, a playground, and a community garden.

“McGee Field had a great life early on, but I think now it has kind of reached its time for needing some large improvements and some enhancements,” said Architect Skip Smith, who designed plans for the new Holland Ware Park.

The ball field is already graded, so very little dirt will need to be moved for the soccer field, Smith said, The soccer field plans include a covered pavilion with restrooms where parents can watch their kids play.

The park will also include a pair of dog parks split for large dogs and small dogs.

“We also have what we call the lower pavilion, which will have bathrooms and a covered area for people watching their dogs play in the park,” Smith said. “We’ve got it laid out for what we call an agility course and then a [dog] splash pad there.”

Smith said optional add-ons for future phases could include a small amphitheater and a skate park.

Mosley said the project still hasn’t been bid out, which will likely occur in about five weeks.