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The Troup County Board of Commissioners discussed a pair of bids for ongoing renovations of the former Whitesville Road school into the planned multi-sport soccer complex.

The next steps for the expansion include the addition of three full-size soccer fields and two parking lots. Bids were discussed for grading the fields and lots, along with lighting for all three fields.

The county took over the former Whitesville Road Elementary in 2021, which had originally been the first Troup High School built in 1954. Much of the original facility has been torn down to make way for an additional soccer field and parking lot. Only a single wing of classrooms and the gymnasium built in 1961 remain from the school building. 

A secondary structure, the former band building, which was built in 1979, was also kept as part of the 90 acres of property turned over to the county. The school system is still using the former band building for their Exceptional Education Department but plans have been made to move it to the former Rosemont Elementary School.

The final phase of the renovation is building three 240 feet by 360 feet, full-sized soccer fields and adding two new parking lots. One of the lots will enter off Whitesville Road and the other comes off Fort Drive on the side. The parking lots will provide 471 parking spots, which Assistant County Manager Jay Anderson said is vital to the project. 

“If you’ve ever been out there on a busy soccer day, it is packed with people parking all over the place. We believe that’s enough parking spots to handle the fields and the space we have now,” Anderson said.

Parks and Recreation Director Lance Dennis said they need soccer fields, particularly rectangular fields in general.

“We had a master plan done for Parks and Rec in Troup County … the one thing that they said that we were deficient in was rectangular-shaped fields just for practices and opportunities to play,” Dennis said.

Dennis said the new three fields will open up areas where kids can play as well as be rented by private clubs that want to utilize the space for practice or for tournament use.

“It gives a possibility to bring in revenue,” Dennis said, “We’ve been hesitant with tournaments because we know that our kids are on our fields during most of the prime times on Saturdays.”

Another benefit of the design is it will provide fields for other purposes such as football, lacrosse or flag football.

“Girl’s flag football started this year, and it was wildly successful. We need more fields for people just to practice on or to play on. It just also gives us more fields to utilize for all sports and all groups,” Anderson said.

Eight bids were received for the grading. Anderson said the contractors were asked for base bids on the project as well as a secondary bid for additional costs if unsuitable soil is found on the property and needs to be replaced.

Anderson recommended going with a bid from 4-H Clearing and Grading for $3,267,325.53. 4-H did not have the lowest base bid, but Anderson said their costs for replacing the “bad soil” if found was less expensive so it would work out better if enough unsuitable soil is found. He estimated that at worst it would be a wash for the county if not much bad soil is found.

Anderson also recommended accepting a bid from West Georgia Lighting to provide lights for the soccer fields at $578,000. West Georgia was also not the lowest bidder, but they were recommended because they provided the best lighting for the fields.

Both projects are expected to cost around $3.8 million, which does not include the turf for the fields which is still in the works. Officials have not determined whether they want to go with real grass or utilize artificial turf for the fields.