By Michael Butler

Among the projects slated for 2026 is a new recreation center in Tallassee. Plans are in place to begin work soon.

“Hopefully, in the next six months the old rec center will be coming down,” said Tallassee mayor Joey Wiginton. “The new one will start right where that’s at. Elmore County’s putting in $8 million. The city’s got to come up with about $2 or $3 million. We feel like we’ve got a million or so in our budget. The rest I was going to try and do fundraising and raise half a million or more.”

Wiginton suggested naming of certain parts of the facility as sponsorship options.

“This will be a legacy. Your name will be on that court or weight room for 50 years. That means something. We won’t name the building after anybody, because it will be the Tallassee Community Center.”

Wiginton added that regardless of where the city is on fundraising, the project will proceed.

“We’d just have to cut out some of it,” he said. “We’ve got to come up with the money. One of my friends at church asked, ‘are we really going to get a rec center?’ Yes, we are.”

Preliminary plans have the center with two full-scale basketball courts convertible to two volleyball courts or six pickleball courts, plus two fitness rooms and a weight room. An interior walking track is an alternative addition if enough dollars are raised.

“There are some bonds we already owe on,” Wiginton said.

The city shop will move near the airport opening up room for additional parking.

“We’ll have 139 parking spots. We’ll have more parking during football games.’

While construction takes place, programs will continue for members. Tallassee Parks and Recreation Department director Eric Phillips is working on a deal to relocate weight room equipment and hold fitness programs in the former Bonner’s Medical Supply building. Phillips has also looked at the East Tallassee tennis courts as an option for pickleball courts.

“I’m excited to get started,” Phillips said of the new facility. “It’s been a long time coming. The citizens really deserve it.”

Once work begins, expect up to two full years for the center to be completed.

“It’ll take three or four months to tear the old one down,” Wiginton noted. “It’ll take about 18 months to build a new one. That’s if everything goes accordingly. That’s the cards we’re dealt. We’re going to make the best of it.”