Residents of Sallisaw voted in favor of a half-cent sales tax that will fund the construction of a new sports complex in town. Sallisaw Mayor Shannon Vann said this proposal has been in the works for quite some time.
"It's a project that a lot of people in the community have asked for and requested for many years," Vann said. "We were excited to finally put it to a vote of the people and let them make the final decision on it."
The tax passed with 63 percent of voters in favor. It will go into effect October 1 and will expire after the project is complete.
The "state-of-the-art facility" includes four baseball fields, four softball fields, a concession stand, bathroom facilities and lighting that will cost approximately $4.7 million, according to Vann. It will be located near Interstate 40 and US Highway 64.
"I think it'll be good for the community," said Brittany Guffey who lives in the area. "I think softball and baseball are really fun sports, and it'll give families something to do."
Tori Tincher said sports are popular in the area. She thinks female athletes will especially benefit from the new fields.
"I know girls around here don't get a lot of recognition, and they are really great softball players," she said.
Vann expects construction to begin by the end of 2013 and the new fields to be open to the public by spring of 2015.