On Thursday, Aug. 20, there was one city in the United States where its residents withstood temperatures of nearly 90 degrees to attend a groundbreaking ceremony for its brand new, $7,000,000 tennis courts—and that was the city of Gadsden, Alabama.
Heath Williamson, the Director of Engineering for the city, kicked off the ceremony by explaining how much playing a role in such a large-scale project meant to him, stating.
“It’s just a great honor to be a part of a project like this,” Williamson said. “You’ve seen us get to go through several projects like this, one after another, and from my seat, it’s a whole lot of fun.”
Williamson then gave his thanks to everyone involved in making the project possible, including the City of Gadsden engineering team, Chambless King Architects, and Milam Construction.
“I truly work with a bunch of professionals,” he said, “and without them, this would be much harder.”
After Williamson gave a brief invocation, in which he blessed the people at the ceremony and the project as it progresses, John Chambless, co-founder of Chambless King Architects, spoke and expressed gratitude to the city for his involvement in the design and development of the tennis courts.
”Today is much more than a groundbreaking on a new tennis center,” Chambless said. “It is really part of a larger vision for Gadsden—investing in quality of life, recreation, health,” he stated, “and places that bring people together.”
Chambless also stated that the city is sending a clear message in doing this.“Gadsden is moving forward and investing in the people who call Gadsden “home.” As he sees it, the tennis center will help build a stronger sense of community in the city, adding that it will not only be a place to play and compete—but also “a gathering place for young players, students, families, and friends.”
Additionally, Chambless noted the more practical benefits of the project, too.
“Tournament play will be enhanced by this new tennis facility and bring new visitors and expanded economic activity to Gadsden.”
Still, he explained that practicality was not the only factor in this decision.
“Years from now, the success of this facility will be measured not only in the matches played but by the friendships formed, children and students encouraged, families gathered, and memories created,” Chambless said. “The city, with the support and partnership of Gadsden State, is not simply building a tennis center; together, they are building community and helping build the next chapter of the new vision for Gadsden.”
Mike Milam, president of Milam & Co., the construction company building the courts, also had a few words to add.
“Thank you for the opportunity that we’re given to work in partnership. That’s what it’s about,” Milam said, echoing sentiments similar to Williamson’s and Chambless’s, before reading aloud a Bible verse that one of his mentors always carried with him. “‘How good and pleasant is it when God’s people live together in unity!’” he finished, a quote that was met with invigorated applause from the ceremony’s attendants.
Mark Salmon, Chief Facilities Officer of the Alabama Community College System, represented Chancellor Jimmy Baker, who could not attend the ceremony in-person.
“He is pleased to partner with you in making this tennis court a reality and a dream for this community,” stated Salmon.
After acknowledging Baker’s absence and personal thoughts, Salmon went on to tell an anecdote about his and his daughter’s own relationship with tennis, who he said “changed the world” with her love for tennis, and how that experience grounds his hope for the tennis center in Gadsden.
“This tennis facility—in the vision of Mayor Ford—is going to create wonderful memories for moms and dads as they bring their sons and daughters to this place and they develop a love for tennis.”
Once Salmon was done speaking, Gadsden State Community College’s very own president, Alan Smith, gave a few brief remarks as well.
“I celebrated one year of being the president on August 1st,” he began. “When I started, I simply had a mission that I wanted every college employee to know — that our mission is to help people,” he continued, emphasizing that the goal was for Gadsden State to become “the most affordable, accessible and achievable college anywhere in the United States of America.”
Through the construction of the tennis courts, he hopes that the college will inch a little closer to that goal.
“We want to be a college for the community, and I think today embodies that 100%,” Smith said.
Smith also thanked Mark Salmon and Tim McCartney, a Board of Trustees member, for working alongside him throughout the planning and funding processes.
Finally, Mayor Craig Ford emphasized just how important his and the city’s relationship with Gadsden State by detailing his history with the college, stating that their connection is unique to them. As such, the tennis court project would have not come to fruition anywhere else.
“Don’t take these partnerships for granted,” Ford concluded, before dismissing the attendants from the formal part of the ceremony and proceeding to break ground on the actual construction site—together, with every party involved in the project, as a community.
