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County poised to act quickly on sportsplex

Drawings show four regulation-size soccer fields at Jackson Park and three regulation-size and a youth field, a softball diamond and tennis courts at Berkeley Mills Park.

Henderson County commissioners are poised to act quickly tonight when they see two options for a sportsplex — four full-sized soccer fields at Jackson Park or three full-sized fields and a youth soccer field plus a softball diamond and six tennis courts at Berkeley Mills Park.

County officials were scheduled to open bids Monday morning from architects who responded to a request for qualifications to design the fields once commissioners choose a location.

County staff and WGLA, the county's consulting engineers, estimate the sports complex would cost $9-10 million at Jackson Park and $12-14 million at Berkeley Park.

"The funding deadlines necessitate a quick turnaround of the responses," a county staff memorandum said. "Upon board approval of selection, staff will negotiate an agreement with the firm and bring the agreement back to the board for approval."

In a special called meeting on July 15 the School Board, which owns the 39-acre Berkeley property, voted to transfer the land to the county provided commissioners develop it for soccer, softball and tennis.

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