Jonesboro, AR – (JonesboroRightNow.com) – Officials provided updates on the construction of the upcoming Ridge Athletics Center during Tuesday’s city council meeting.
Craig Rickert, executive director of the Jonesboro Advertising and Promotion (A&P) Commission, told council members that crews were working on installing the decking and roofing of the main gym, which is around 65,000 square feet.
He added that footings for the space’s 40,000 square foot natatorium were being installed, with concrete walls to go up once footing installation is complete.
“We’re very excited at the point where we’re at,” Rickert said. “We’re hitting a lot of milestones right now.”
Rickert showed council members renderings of the inside of the complex, which will include a reception area, full-service commercial kitchen, a merchandise store, a ticket office, and more. He also presented renderings of the complex’s waterslides, lazy river, competition pool and more.
A gallery of the complex’s renderings is below.
Officials also announced that Brandon Shrader, former Craighead County administrator, would be the complex’s general manager. Wendy French will be the new county administrator, county officials announced Tuesday.
“[Shrader] has a fantastic background in programming in Parks and Rec, and he did a little construction project himself with the new courthouse over there, a couple blocks away. So, he is well-versed,” Rickert said. “He was also a part of Batesville’s Parks and Rec department when they built their aquatic community facility. So, he is used to projects like this, and we’re very lucky to have him.”
Rickert added that the goal was to have a director of operations, a marketing director, a director of business development, and a finance director hired by June.
The building is estimated to open in the first quarter of 2027.
During an A&P Commission meeting held on Tuesday, an operational bank account for the complex was established in accordance with the commission’s operating agreement with The Sports Management Facilities.
The account will be held at First Community Bank, with an interest rate of 2.5% and full FDIC coverage.
“To stick with our operating agreement, and since we do now have staff that’s on board, there’s gonna be payroll, there’s gonna be items that need to be purchased, to basically conduct business,” said A&P commissioner Brian Emison.
The 200,000-square-foot complex, to be located on Race Street, will feature gyms to house courts for sports such as basketball, volleyball, and pickleball.
A 50-meter pool with diving boards and a recreational warm-up/cool-down pool will be installed. 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.
A groundbreaking ceremony was held for the complex in April 2025.
