Community Voices Matter

Community Concerns

This is a small sample of comments from residents of Southmont collected during our community meetings.

I question how this could be planned and implemented with almost no posted public information or input from the community. There is a total lack of infrastructure, lodging or restaurants in the Southmont area to support the volume of traffic and tourists and absolutely nothing has been presented to address those needs to make this project successful. Quick research shows the county purchased the property in August 2024 before any information was available to the public and I REALLY would like to know why the county would spend over $3,000,000 for property appraised and valued at $1,200,000. Something about that one fact reeks of inpropriety right off the bat. Oppose it completely because the community was not involved in the decision making at all.

I feel there should be a community park, dog park, swimming facilities, but not the expansive project like a sportsplex. We should not go ahead with this project because: (1) 65 million of public money is too much. (2) We do not have enough public input or info to do this yet.

I am opposed to the sports complex. Southmont (roads, emt's, fire dept, etc) are not ready for traffic and people increase in the area.

The progress is good. How it's being implemented is not good. Scale and infrastructure has not been considered thoughtfully It will severely impact the peace and tranquility of our neighborhood. We are being lied to about it being a "community center" when in fact it is going to be a travel ball attraction. Worse yet, the citizens of the county are literally being robbed of many much needed improvements in emergency services, law enforcement services, educational support for the children and schools. County council did this underhandedly, with complete disregard for the people of this county. How they have "moved" money around to justify their actions is tantamount to misappropriation of federal funds and governmental corruption.

The Park is not a community center and it's existence in the Southmont area will adversely impact our standard of living. Most of us moved here BECAUSE of the beauty and tranquility. In addition, it just seems like an improbable location for such a public, high volume, expansive facility. . It also appears that funds may have been misappropriated are in the very least Understandably maneuvered . Especially considering there is a very appropriate site for this type of endeavor right off of interstate 85 on Belmont road. Southmont does not have the infrastructure to support a project of this size. Cellphone service is unreliable. The amount of traffic this will bring is not sustainable. They will be driving to and from lexington to spend the night and return. Too much traffic on this road.

We asked Southmont residents what they'd be OK with. 67 said walking trails, 61 said playgrounds, 48 said community center, 41 said dog park, 37 said pickleball or tennis courts, 35 said disc or frisbee golf, 25 said small outdoor amphitheater, 19 said 4 baseball or softball fields, 15 said 5 soccer fields, 15 said olympic-sized swimming pool and basketball center, 10 said 45 acre waterpark, 3 said small RV park, 3 said small cabin camp ground, and 0 said 10 soccer fields and 8 baseball fields.

We asked Southmont residents to rate the following: 5.5 of respondents preferred a scaled back version of the park or "community center" as it has been proposed. 2.7 of respondents preferred building new homes on the site. 1.7 of respondents support the plan as proposed.