Greg Wilson/Anderson Observer
Plans are running smoothly for the completion of the new 62-acre facility at the Anderson Area YMCA Ducworth/Tucker Athletic Complex, which includes not only new fields for sports, but a state-of-the-art cross country facility aimed at attracting regional meets for high schools and colleges/universities.
The $7 million effort, which should be complete by fall, is also expected to provide a economic boost for Anderson County by hosting regional events.
Located off S.C. 81 North, the complex will feature four baseball fields, five multi-purpose fields for football, soccer and lacrosse, and a large cross country track, as part of a partnership with Anderson School District 5, which is providing $1.9 million track to serve T.L. Hanna and Westside high school cross country teams.
The goal is for the track, which features the latest digital technology to allow visitors to watch runners at every point in the race, is to attract regional NCAA meets to the facility, Funding for the track is from the penny sales tax revenue the district receives.
The facility will also provide a safe place for the district's high school cross country teams to practice. Currently, cross country runners practice on sidewalks near their schools, which has raised questions of safety for those students.
“It’s going to be a unique course. It goes through woods, it crosses a couple of streams and some bridges. It’ll be all high tech with digital display boards, PA systems,” said Anderson School Dist. 5 Superintendent Tom Wilson.