Anderson YMCA to celebrate opening of Ducworth Tucker Sports Complex
The Anderson Area YMCA raised private money, obtained foundation grant money, and held fundraisers to pay for the expansion and renovations of the Ducworth Tucker Sports Complex.
The price tag for the renovations and expansions was $11.8 million, said Joe Drennon, CEO of the Anderson Area YMCA.
Fundraising for renovations began in 2019, construction began in 2021 and it took three years to complete, he said.
The Anderson Area YMCA hosted a ribbon-cutting ceremony at the park at 9 a.m. Saturday, April 13.
“This complex will help build up the next generation of Anderson County through youth sports programs,” Drennon said. “It’s also a tremendous economic development tool for Anderson County to bring outside sports teams in to play in weekend tournaments.”
Anderson Mayor Terrance Roberts said the YMCA Sports Park is important to residents.
“I coached my children on the very fields of the YMCA Sports Park,” he said. “This new space symbolizes endless possibilities for personal growth and community development. Through sports and teamwork, children and families alike will have the opportunity to cultivate valuable skills, form lasting relationships, and create cherished memories that will last a lifetime.”
Ducworth Tucker Sports Complex history, upgrades
For more than 52 years, the Ducworth Tucker Sports Complex has been a prominent venue for sports programming, Drennon said.
From 1972 to 1999, the facility operated on 32 acres of land donated by the family of John Ducworth, Drennon said. In 2000, the family of John Tucker made three separate donations totaling 53 additional acres.
“The sports complex now sits on 85 acres of land,” Drennon said.
The complex will include a playground, four dedicated baseball fields, and five multipurpose fields. The fields can be used for soccer, football, T-ball, and lacrosse. The park also has places for businesses to play softball or host team-building exercises.
Ducworth Tucker Sports Complex and Anderson School District Five
Ducworth Tucker Sports Complex is home to Anderson School District Five’s Cross-Country Program, which serves T.L. Hanna and Westside High School.
The district contributed $4.7 million for the state-of-the-art cross-country course, according to Kyle Newton, assistant superintendent of Anderson School District Five.
The new cross-country track tours through the woods and involves steep hills.
“Our cross-country teams run all over the state, but we never had a nice place in Anderson where they could run,” Newton said. “Our teams used to run on Highway I-81, in town, around the campus, and down Jackson Street.
“With this new facility, they now have a dedicated place to run, helping get them off the streets and sidewalks,” Newton said.
The facility is also open to the public.
Travis Rose covers Anderson County for the Independent Mail. Reach him via email at trose@gannett.com .