Goodyear Park will be undergoing an expansion soon thanks to a grant provided by T- Mobile covering a majority of the cost.

The T-Mobile Hometown Grant is providing a $49,174 grant to go toward the Goodyear Skate Park, announced on Thursday afternoon at the Goodyear Soccer Complex in Cedartown.

The new skate park is part of a second phase of improvements at Goodyear Park, which was transformed in the first phase into a Soccer Complex and is expected to expand in this phase of development as well.

PHOTOS: City of Cedartown announces grant for Skate Park

“We are so appreciative to have been selected for the T-Mobile Hometown Grant,” said Andrew Carter, Cedartown City Commission Chair. “The skate park that will be built as a direct result of this grant will be an amazing addition to our community. We could not have achieved this without the assistance of the T-Mobile Hometown Grant. A skate park has been on our wish list for years, and we are so thankful to see it come to fruition. Incorporating this awesome recreational outlet for our youth at Goodyear Park will be an exciting addition to the existing soccer fields, as well as to the new fields and lighting that will soon be added in Phase II Park development. Thank you again to T-Mobile for your assistance in allowing the City of Cedartown to see this dream turn into a reality.” 

WATCH: City of Cedartown announces T-Mobile Grant for Skate Park

Cedartown City Manager Edward Guzman said that based on pricing provided for the equipment presented earlier in the year that is being held firm, the city should be able to get the maximum amount out of this grant without having to provide much more in additional funding toward the new skate park.

Skaters will get a new place to practice and show off their skills in same general area of the where the new soccer fields on the Prior Street side of the park, which is getting cleared and flattened in the second phase of work at the Goodyear Soccer Complex. One of the project will be a new parking area. Initially the skate park would have gone on the far side of the parking lot along the old retaining wall at Goodyear Park, but now it is slated to sit closer to the soccer fields as the layout has changed somewhat since the preliminary design was completed.

Two additional soccer fields are part of the overall project slated for Phase III, replacing the softball field currently at the park on the other side of Goodyear Circle. Those are still in the planning phases and are larger fields compared to the youth-sized fields in place now.

The preliminary design work on the skate park and its requirements is being completed in cooperation between the city’s Director of Economic Development Oscar Guzman and local skater and shop owner Jason Harris of Harris Skate Supply.

It is expected to include at least three half pipe, six quarter pipes, skate benches, wedges, and other areas where skaters can perform tricks safely within the City of Cedartown.

It might end up having a layout similar to this:

The city already has received $345,000 in grant dollars for the full Phase II project from the Department of Natural Resources in recent years. That money is finally becoming available for park expansion and the whole of the Phase II project is currently out for bid.

Launched in April 2021, T-Mobile Hometown Grants is a $25 million, five-year initiative to support the people and organizations who help small towns across America thrive and grow by providing funding to kickstart vital community development projects.

In a release provided by the company, T-Mobile stated that the company has given more than $6.8 million dollars to 150 communities across 41 states, including Cedartown. The initiative has even led to an additional $2 million in matching funds by other local resources, and more than 12,000 in volunteer hours.  

The local impact of T-Mobile’s Hometown Grants is also underscored by the completion of 62 projects to date, including renovations, restorations and the creation of 12 playgrounds, eight parks, eight community art projects, seven buildings, six sustainability projects, and six new ADA compliant play structures. 

T-Mobile awards Hometown Grants each quarter for up to 25 towns with a population of less than 50,000 people. Anyone with a vision for how to make their community even stronger than it is today can apply. Cities across the country in Alabama, Arizona, California, Colorado, Florida, Iowa, Illinois, Indiana, Montana, North Carolina, New Hampshire, New Jersey, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, Texas, Wisconsin and West Virginia. The projects sent over from the company range from garden spaces, farmers markets and plazas to community and youth centers, business incubators, and libraries.

Cedartown was the only city in Georgia to receive funding in this round of T-Mobile Grants.

The project can begin within the coming weeks if weather permits to begin grading and placing a concrete pad down for the park, with the ramps and other features to follow over the months, with a 60-day turnaround time projected if mother nature cooperates.