Effingham County commissioners approved the layout for the $19.2 million central recreation complex on Ga. 21 and told consultants to start work on schematics and a detailed budget.
The complex on the west side of the highway, just south of Springfield, eventually will have 11 baseball fields, four multi-purpose fields and a two-court gymnasium.
In addition to restrooms and parking, the plan calls for a 12-space RV campground, five picnic shelters, walking trails, covered bleachers, batting cages, three playgrounds, park space, a pond, splash pad, skate park and dog park.
Some empty space is left on Ga. 21 for the county to sell to commercial developers.
Commissioners were presented with the rendering for the master plan at their Sept. 1 meeting.
Consultant CHA Sports figured an overall cost for the complex but is still working on breaking down a cost for phase one.
County Administrator Toss Allen said if phase one includes five fields, the gym would have one court, not two.
"It'd be very difficult to do a full gym in phase one," said Patrick Graham, project developer for CHA Sports.
He said plans will include how to build one court and add a second one later, without disrupting operations.
The plans call for scoring platforms behind each field, but no elevated press box.
The drawing shows walking trails around the whole site.
"Once it's all fully done, you could walk to your heart's content," Graham said.
Commissioners gave the consultants approval to start work immediately on the detailed plans.
"Go to work then in the morning," Commissioner Reggie Loper told them.
Graham said the schematics and budget numbers would take eight weeks to complete. "We'll get started on it tomorrow and update Toss Allen on the schedule," he said.
County officials are hoping to break ground on the complex this fall, when they hold a celebration of the recreation department's 40th year.
The county has $5.9 million set aside for the first phase. Commissioners have said they hope voters will approve another round of penny-per-dollar sales tax to finish the project.