09/29/2026
Dear Citizens of Sylacauga,
As we reach the end of another fiscal year, it gives us an opportunity to reflect on the past 12 months, celebrate what we have accomplished together, and look ahead to what is coming next for Sylacauga Parks & Recreation.
This past year has brought a great deal of change, growth, and investment in our department. Through the support of our City Council, Parks & Recreation Board, staff, volunteers, and—most importantly—our community, we have continued working to improve the quality of life for the citizens of Sylacauga.
Growing Our Team
Early in the year, we made some personnel changes within our Athletics Department. Those changes gave us an opportunity to restructure the department and add another staff member to better serve the more than 1,000 participants in our youth sports programs.
There have certainly been some learning opportunities along the way, but we believe the addition of a second Athletic Coordinator gives us the resources we need to continue improving our programs and expanding recreational opportunities in the future.
We are also committed to investing in the knowledge and professional development of our staff. Throughout the year, our team members have attended conferences, completed training, and earned national certifications that better prepare us to serve our community.
This year, two team members earned their Aquatics Facility Operator Certifications, and Certified Playground Safety Inspector Certifications. All of our department heads have also earned their Professional Recreator Certifications through the Alabama Recreation and Parks Association.
Our two new Athletic Coordinators are working toward their Certified Youth Sports Administrator Certifications. In preparation for our new aquatics facility, some of our staff will also have completed two years of Aquatics Director School through the Association of Aquatic Professionals, along with Aquatics Technician School. This training will help ensure that we are prepared to properly operate, program, and maintain our new facility when it opens.
Courtside Park
One of the year's biggest accomplishments was the completion of Courtside Park.
We took an old, out-of-service swimming pool site and transformed it into a new community recreation facility featuring eight pickleball courts, a full-size basketball court, green space, and a pavilion with restrooms.
The entire facility was designed to be ADA accessible.
We held the grand opening in May, and Courtside Park has remained busy ever since. It has quickly become a popular destination for our citizens and has given us another great place for people to gather, play, exercise, and enjoy the outdoors.
Improvements at Beth Yates Park
We also completed significant improvements at Beth Yates Park.
What began as a project to replace the existing playground structure developed into an opportunity to give the entire area a much-needed facelift. After installing the new ADA-accessible playground, we completely redid the landscaping, added additional seating in shaded areas, and installed additional fencing to help contain the play area.
We also resurfaced the tennis courts, giving citizens another improved recreational amenity to enjoy.
South Highland Park
South Highland Park received some much-needed attention this year as well.
We renovated and reopened the park restrooms, which had been closed for more than 30 years. In addition, the City Council has approved a capital project to replace the outdated playground structure with a new ADA-accessible playground during the upcoming fiscal year.
These improvements are part of our continued effort to make each of our parks safe, clean, accessible, and enjoyable for everyone.
A New Recreation Center
Perhaps the most exciting development this year was the groundbreaking of our new Recreation Center.
This facility represents a tremendous investment in the future of Sylacauga and will provide our community with opportunities that we simply have not had before.
The new Recreation Center will include:
• Two basketball courts that can be converted into four volleyball courts
• An eight-lane swimming pool
• A 3.5-foot shallow-water area for learn-to-swim programs, water aerobics, and water therapy
• An indoor walking track
• A fitness area
• A studio for group exercise classes
• Two meeting and party rooms
• A concession stand
• Locker rooms with showers
This facility will create new opportunities for our citizens to focus on health, wellness, recreation, and quality of life. It will also give us additional space to host local sporting events and tournaments, bringing more visitors to our community.
We are excited to watch this project take shape and will continue to keep our community informed as construction progresses.
Community Events
Our department also stayed busy providing events and activities for the community throughout the year.
Some of the events we hosted included our Christmas Market, Easter Egg Hunts, 5K races at Lake Howard, a Back-to-School Bash, Fall Festival, Senior Extravaganza, and six Food Truck Fridays.
These events are an important part of what we do. Parks & Recreation is about more than facilities and sports—it is about creating opportunities for our community to come together and enjoy Sylacauga.
Our Senior Programs Continue to Grow
Our Senior Department continues to grow and provide new opportunities for our senior citizens.
Each week has a different theme, with activities taking place throughout the week to keep our senior citizens active, connected, and engaged.
Our seniors traveled to St. Augustine, Florida, this past spring, and our Friday Cruises continue to take them to different destinations throughout the surrounding area.
We are proud of the growth of our senior programs and, most importantly, the friendships and sense of community that have developed through them.
Looking Ahead
As we begin a new fiscal year, we know there is still plenty of work to do.
We plan to continue growing our athletics programs through new programming and sports camps. We will also be closely monitoring construction of the new Recreation Center, with a projected opening around the end of next year.
We will continue our efforts to improve our parks, with Fairmont Park scheduled for a new playground structure during the next fiscal year.
And as grass-cutting season begins to slow down, our Parks staff will continue working throughout our park system on routine maintenance, landscaping, repairs, and improvements. Our goal is to keep our parks safe, clean, attractive, and ready for our citizens to enjoy.
Thank You, Sylacauga
None of this happens without people working together.
We are grateful for the support of the Mayor, City Council, Parks & Recreation Board, our city staff, volunteers, coaches, parents, and community partners. Most of all, we appreciate the citizens of Sylacauga who continue to use our facilities, participate in our programs, attend our events, and support the work we are doing.
The past year has been a busy one, but we believe the best is still ahead.
Thank you for allowing Sylacauga Parks & Recreation to serve you. We look forward to another year of growth, improvement, and providing opportunities for our community to Play, Connect, and Thrive.
Sincerely,
Steve Masters
Executive Director
Sylacauga Parks & Recreation
