The sound of bouncing basketballs and cheering families filled L. Scott Stell Park on Saturday morning as Chatham County celebrated the grand opening of its new Airnasiums. The ribbon cutting, held during the County’s annual Fall Festival, marked the completion of the first phase of the park’s major recreational improvements.

The new facilities quickly came to life — the basketball, tennis, and pickleball courts were in use moments after the ribbon was cut. Commissioner Aaron Whiteley joined in the fun, playing a game or two of basketball with local residents.

This first phase of redevelopment transformed the park’s sports complex with four new basketball courts, four new tennis courts, and ten new pickleball courts, all sheltered under three Airnasiums equipped with lights and fans for comfortable, year-round play. Visitors can also now enjoy four new covered pavilions, along with upgraded parking, lighting, and landscaping throughout the park.

The celebration didn’t stop at the ribbon cutting. The Salute to Service Walk at 11 a.m. honored local veterans and first responders, and the Fall Festival continued into the afternoon with hayrides, games, a kid zone, vendors, food trucks, and tours of the Chatham County Police Mobile Unit.

Improvements at L. Scott Stell Park will continue in the coming months. Work is already underway to install new public water and sewer systems, replacing aging wells and septic tanks, and construction on a new walking trail around the pond is set to begin on October 20.

The upgrades at L. Scott Stell Park are part of Chatham County’s ongoing investment in public recreation and community spaces, ensuring that residents have access to safe, high-quality facilities for years to come.

Video of Ribbon Cutting Ceremony: