Jonesboro, AR – (JonesboroRightNow.com) – The installation of walls for the upcoming Ridge Athletics Center began this week.
Jonesboro Advertising and Promotion Commission executive director Craig Rickert said walls began going up on Monday. He estimated the completion of the wall installation in the next few weeks.
He added that crews started installing walls for the eight-court gym, with the four-court gym to follow. Once wall installation is complete, crews will install the slab where the kitchen and office spaces will be.
“It’s just an exciting time to see the building going vertical like this,” Rickter said. “It marks a really important point in the construction of the athletic center. To see that big crane putting those big concrete walls in place, it’s just so exciting.”
A groundbreaking ceremony was held for the complex in April.
The 200,000 square foot complex, to be located on Race Street, will feature a gym to house courts for sports such as basketball, volleyball, and pickleball.
It will also have a 50-meter pool with diving boards and a recreational warm-up/cool-down pool. The center’s second story will have viewing areas for the courts and pool, with 1,245 spectator seats dedicated to the 50-meter pool.
The complex is projected to cost $74.6 million. Rickert said the complex is estimated to open in the first quarter of 2027, and that tournament scheduling had already begun.