In 1938 the city of Sylacauga established the Parks Recreation Board to have the authority to develop Parks, Playgrounds, Swimming Pools and other Recreational Facilities for the citizens of Sylacauga.

           Our first board of directors consisted of six persons.  Recreational functions were held in Churches, at Masonic Hall, and School  Auditoriums.  The first Recreational Center was built in1943 during World War II by the Federal government  for the ammunitions plant in Childersburg. Three of the center’s were built in Talladega county; the city of  Childersburg, Sylacauga, and Talladega.  The Recreation Department was given $16,000.00 by the Federal government and $4,000.00 by the city and Avondale Mills to run this department.  Our current budget is over $1 million dollars.

           Our first center was used for all types of community activities.  Civic clubs, teen groups, and community dances were held so that the citizens would have activities to keep up morale during war time.  Recreation was a big part of the wartime activities due to the many people that flooded the area because of the Alabama Ordinance Plant.  The city of Sylacauga was saddened by the loss of the Recreation Center, when in 1975 it burned due to electrical problems.  In 1976 Sylacauga Parks and Recreation moved into its current J. Craig Smith Community Center.

ABOUT US

J. Craig Smith Community Center A Division of Sylacauga Parks and Recreation

 

Sylacauga Parks and Recreation
Text Box: Since the development of the Parks and Recreation Board the City of Sylacauga has developed a full service recreation department. There are three recreation centers; the main center is the J. Craig Smith Community Center named for one of our past board members. This center was built in 1976. The Verlie B. Collins center is a Recreation facility that houses a gymnasium and meeting rooms and our newest facility is the Maxye Veazey Senior Adult Activity Center built in 2007. In 2007 The Parks and Recreation updated the five city parks and all are now handicapped accessible. Noble Park is our largest park and there are age appropriate play structures, a pavilion available for rental, a skate park and BMX track. This park also has a ¼ mile walking track which is concrete. Beth Wallace Yates Park is the location of the tennis center, as well as a pavilion available for rental, age appropriate play structures, and a sand pit for volley ball. We have two smaller community parks, which are Fairmont and South Highland Park. Both parks have basketball courts and play equipment, and there is a small pavilion at each park. Newly added in 2008 is Central Park, which is a passive recreation area which includes a large pavilion and restrooms. In the fall of 2008 we will be constructing a 15 mile mountain bike and hiking trail at Lake Howard, this trail will run through the National Forrest. There are plans for a new pavilion, primitive camping and camper hook-ups, at a later date. The Donald Comer Complex is used for many different programs; Cal Ripken Baseball is played in the spring, and in the fall the fields are converted for the soccer and football leagues. The City Pool is now used year round. During the fall, the Air Dome is installed allowing winter swim programs. The pool is heated during the winter months allowing a comfortable swimming environment. The pool is used for summer and winter swim programs, swimming lessons and also available for pool parties please call the J. Craig Smith Center for your reservation. Our Community is very pro recreation and we would love to have everyone come and enjoy the many opportunities that our city has to offer. Executive Director Jim Armstrong