The portion of Morgan Drive that runs between the baseball and softball fields at Freedom Park (3301 Roff Avenue) closed this week as park of the $2.6 million improvement project that includes realigning the road to a safer location. A map indicating the closure is above and the rendering showing where the new road is below.

Macon-Bibb County Commissioners, the Parks and Recreation Department, and Vine-Ingle Little League celebrated the start of the project with a groundbreaking on June 28, and pictures from that event are posted to the County’s Facebook page.

The improvements are being funded by the voter-approved Special Purpose Local Option Sales Tax (SPLOST), and construction is expected to take 270 days. This phase of improvements includes: four new baseball and softball fields in a wagon wheel configuration, new concession stand at the center of the fields, a new splash pad, removal of the pool that has been inoperable for several years, and relocation of Morgan Drive so that it doesn’t go through the middle of the fields. A rendering of the master plan for Freedom Park is attached; this phase is for improvements to the left of Roff Avenue.

These improvements follow a SPLOST-funded upgrade to the recreation center at Freedom Park that converted the gymnasium into the Bishop Frank Ray Arena, featuring two rings, 600 bleacher seats, new flooring, and more. Since its conversion, it has hosted multiple local, state, and regional boxing tournaments. For more information, you can visit them at 3301 Roff Avenue, or give them a call at 751-9280. Also, you can like them on Facebook to stay up-to-date with activities and events.