Commissioner To Continue Push For Fosters Activity Center

TUSCALOOSA, AL — Despite expressed financial concerns from some on the Tuscaloosa County Commission, the effort continues to see a Tuscaloosa County Park & Recreation Authority (PARA) activity center in Fosters.

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District 4 Commissioner Reginald Murray on Wednesday is set to once again propose that Ellis Architects develop bid documents and advertise for bids on the proposed activity center, which would be similar in design to the Tingle Facility.

As Patch previously reported, the push for a new activity center hit a snag in April as a majority of the Tuscaloosa County Commission expressed concerns over the budget and other potential issues from such a large commitment.

A work session regarding different recreation projects was then held following the County Commission's regular meeting on April 20, but no official action was taken on the measure.

In December 2022, Murray and Ellis Architects presented conceptual designs for an $18 million activity center at Braughton Park in Fosters.

However, Murray in April presented a revised budget that was pared down to $14.5 million — with the proposed indoor walking track representing the biggest of the cuts from the plan. This is down from $16.5 million in a previous revision of the initial budget.

If the new center at Braughton Park is constructed as initially proposed, Ellis Architects said it would feature the same amenities as the Jerry Tingle Activity Center, such as a pool with water slides, an indoor walking track, a gymnasium and additional space set aside for a possible second gym.

Murray's longstanding position goes back to when the talks of a possible activity center in Fosters first began nearly two decades ago. Over the years, Murray has circled back to an expressed intention of having a PARA activity center in each of the four County Commission districts.

This followed the opening of the Bobby Miller Center in District 3 in 2006; the Faucett Brothers Activity Center in District 1 in 2013; and the Jerry Tingle Center in District 2 in 2018.

"For people in that area, it's just like the years we went without having a high school or middle school in that area," Murray said in April. "People will come [to a new activity center], people from outside of our county or people from the eastern side of the county. People in Tuscaloosa will utilize this center."

Despite Murray being a vocal advocate for the proposed activity center, District 1 Commissioner Stan Acker and District 3's Mark Nelson both voiced concerns relating to the timing and financials of the project.

"In a perfect situation, [a new activity center is] going to be a drain on the general fund because PARA doesn't have the budget and they certainly aren't going to step up and cover that and from what I'm understanding, we're supposed to cover that," Nelson said in April. "So the way I look at it, taking that big chunk of reserves ... is a big commitment heading into some times when I think we should be careful."

The Tuscaloosa County Commission's regular meeting on Wednesday is set for 9 a.m. in the Commission chamber at the Tuscaloosa County Courthouse.

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