CARROLLTON - With an agreement Friday to purchase of 20.1 acres just outside North Carrollton, Carroll County supervisors are closer to making real an idea for developing a recreational park with a multi-purpose facility.
The purchase price is $70,000, and the property is owned by James A. Neill Jr. Supervisors haven't gotten the deed to the property yet.
The acreage is across from Rosemary's Catfish and adjoins 10 acres supervisors bought from Neill in 1999. About half the new tract is wooded and lies across Beasley Creek at the back of a meadow fronting along Mississippi 35.
The action follows a growing grassroots movement, which culminated in a meeting with supervisors and with representatives of various pro-Carroll groups in October. During the meeting early last month, a letter signed by these representatives was presented to supervisors. The letter proposed building a multi-purpose complex to be used for meetings, livestock, horse, and rodeo events, concerts and ball games.
Neill has said, according to published reports, he would donate $2,000 to groups planning to develop the property.
Years earlier, Carroll supervisors considered, but then decided against, signing an interlocal agreement with Montgomery County for the development and use of a similar facility.
Debbie Mims, president of Rebel Little League, said Saturday morning plans include building four ball fields with restroom and concession facilities generally on the south end of the meadow. The multi-purpose and livestock arena would probably be developed on the north end.
"Supervisors sort of gave us the go-ahead to try and start on the ball fields," Mims said. "We hope to have two of them ready for the spring season, maybe all four."
Chancery Clerk Sugar Mullins said the tract across the creek has older hardwoods on it.
George Johnson, president of Carroll County Development Association, said he's encouraged by the "tremendous cooperation" shown by supervisors and by all those who have been interested in this movement.
At the meeting Friday he showed pictures from visits made to similar projects in Marshall, Calhoun, and Yalobusha counties. Other meetings will be held in the near future to work on more concrete plans, and when these plans are drawn and finalized, there will be a better idea of how much money will be required.
"There are some things we pretty well know"about grants they might pursue, Johnson said, but talking about them would be premature. It might take a couple of years, he estimated, for the complex to actually be built.
Friday's action by supervisors, Johnson said, "is one of the most positive steps we've taken for the area in a long time."
The ball season, which could involve church teams as well as league teams, Mims said, usually starts May 1. There are about 150 participants in the Rebel Little League, including players and coaches. Until there are suitable local fields, Carroll County players pay rent to have home games at the Winona Recreational Park.
