The project was repeatedly described as the product of collaboration between county leadership, private donors, grant partners and community supporters.
Commissioner James Harper said the fitness court reflects momentum in Jones County and the kind of partnership needed to complete projects of this scale.
“This can’t happen without extensive collaboration,” Harper said.
Harper also pointed to the role of the Mills family, saying their generosity helped make the project possible, while adding that the investment would outlast the day’s ceremony and serve county residents for years to come.
Don Brinkley, president of The Harold H. Bate Foundation, also emphasized partnership and praised the county’s efforts.
“I’m here very simply to say thank you for what you’re doing in Jones County,” Brinkley said. “We’re happy to be a part of it.”
Brinkley noted that Brittany Shipp, who was recognized in the program, had been instrumental in helping Jones County obtain and track grant funding but was unable to stay for the afternoon ceremony.
The ceremony also included remarks from Mike Storch of Cypress Creek Renewables, which contributed to the project. Storch said the company has a strong presence in Jones County and tied the fitness court donation to a broader pattern of local investment.
“This fitness court investment reflects Cypress Creek’s continued commitment to Jones County and its residents,” Storch said, adding that the company is excited about what the amenity will offer residents in improving quality of life.
For some speakers, the moment was also personal.
Matthew Brinkley of the Jones County Recreation Advisory Board said the new fitness court represents the kind of opportunity he once wished existed closer to home.
“Jones County is not going to be somewhere you have to leave to have fun,” Brinkley said. “We can do it right here in Jones County.”
Ellen Hargett, director of Jones County Senior Services, said she sees the site as more than a workout space. She said she hopes to bring seniors to the fitness court and use it as a place where older and younger residents can share community space together.
“This fitness court and that playground are another testament to our ability to bridge the gap between older generations and younger generations,” Hargett said.
Jones County Recreation Director David Mallard said the court gives residents another option to pursue healthier lifestyles outdoors. He also thanked the project’s contributors, including National Fitness Campaign, Cypress Creek Renewables, the North Carolina Accessible Communities Fitness Grant, The Harold H. Bate Foundation and county staff.
County Manager Kyle Smith used his closing remarks to frame the fitness court as the beginning of a larger effort.
“This is only a small step in a positive and forward direction in terms of recreation and wellness,” Smith said. “We’ve got 35 acres here. We take up about four. So this is a small step.”
Smith said county leaders are already looking ahead to additional possibilities for the property, including an emergency shelter and recreation-wellness complex, as Jones County works to build on the site’s central location and leverage outside support.
The event concluded with the ribbon cutting and plans for exercise demonstrations, turning the ceremony from formal remarks to a public introduction of the new space. For Jones County leaders, the message was clear: the fitness court is both a finished project and the start of something larger.