There isn’t another facility like it in the country, period. The 200, 000 SF Ridge Athletics Center broke ground in April 2025, and with plans for 12 basketball courts, a 50, 000 SF natatorium and an outdoor water park, it’s shaping up to be a game changer. “We have spent a significant amount of time receiving expert advice and community engagement to ensure it is the best it can be for the next several decades,” said Jerry Morgan, chair of the Jonesboro Advertising & Promotion Commission, which will oversee the operation of the RAC. Regional draw One of the key functional design aspects of the RAC is the division of the facility’s 12 basketball courts or, in other configurations, 24 volleyball courts across two separate gyms. “The RAC was designed with two different court areas to provide programming flexibility. The eight-court and four-court gyms can be utilized together for a large tournament, or they can function separately, allowing for concurrent events,” said Mark Owings, senior vice president of architecture at Crafton Tull, which designed the facility with Hastings & Chivetta Architects. The four-court gym will double as an events center capable of hosting formal events and trade expos. The RAC’s crown jewel is the 1, 250-seat natatorium. The 50-meter, dual-movable bulkhead competition pool can be set up in multiple configurations, including with diving competition capacity. What really sets the RAC’s natatorium apart, though, is its 25-meter warm-up pool, which will allow athletes to prepare for their races without using space in the competition pool, eliminating any need for breaks in racing. It also provides space for community programming, like swim and exercise classes and swim parties. The RAC will also be a hub of summer fun. An outdoor water park, complete with large slides and a zero-entry pool, is scheduled to be the final piece of the project. Investing in community The City of Jonesboro appropriated $3. 2 million in American Rescue Plan Act funding to the project. It also wouldn’t be possible without the 2% “hamburger tax” approved in 2021 by the Jonesboro City Council, which is expected to generate $6. 6 million in 2025 alone. “The Ridge Athletic Center is a bold investment in Jonesboro’s future a place where opportunity will grow, talent will shine and our community will continue to thrive,” said Jonesboro Mayor Harold Copenhaver.
https://www.arkansasbusiness.com/article/raising-the-bar-ridge-athletics-center-redefines-recreation-across-the-region/