At a special meeting, the Town of Selma Special Recreation Advisory Board opened a public hearing on a Parks and Recreation Trust Fund Part F grant application to expand the Richard B. Harrison Sports Complex.

The application, presented by Byron McAllister, Mayor of Selma, would add an NCAA‑sized natural‑grass soccer field (with room for smaller youth fields), walking paths intended to connect to the East Coast Greenway and the Mountain‑to‑Sea Trail, a splash pad, additional parking, and a botanical garden area adjacent to the Senior Services building.

The hearing drew several residents, business owners and town officials who voiced support for the plan and described how upgrades could increase local recreational opportunities and bring more visitors to Selma. "We do believe that our citizens and particularly our children deserve the best. And we believe that this will bring the best to this sports complex for generations to come," McAllister said.

Nut graf: The board opened the public comment period so residents could weigh in on the PARTF Part F grant application. The discussion focused on the layout and access needs for the sports complex — particularly parking and vehicle access for Senior Services’ Meals on Wheels — but the board did not take a formal vote on awarding or committing funds during the meeting.

McAllister described the proposal in detail, including the soccer field, seating, and a continuous walking path around the complex. He said the design envisions the soccer pitch at the east end of the site, seating around the field, and natural turf. McAllister also discussed locating a botanical garden north of existing tennis courts, noting that some of that green space may be allocated to parking to serve Senior Services and the Meals on Wheels program.

On vehicle access and parking, a board member described a proposed drive loop behind the Senior Services building to facilitate drop‑offs and to allow Meals on Wheels vehicles to circulate without blocking parking. McAllister confirmed the loop would run between the youth/elderly tennis courts and the Reggie Barnes outdoor basketball court and would connect to expanded parking northwest of the Richard B. Harrison gymnasium.

Residents and local business representatives voiced support. "This gym looks so much cleaner, and everything was so well organized," McAllister added as a resident speaker described recent improvements. Philip McDaniel of Selma said he is "very supportive of this plan" and recalled past safety problems that have since been reduced. Joe Beisar of Adventure Development said a larger, improved complex could help downtown businesses and local entrepreneurs. Christina Miglish, a downtown business owner, said the upgrades would draw more visitors and increase food traffic for local merchants.

Town Manager Alexis Carter spoke from a staff perspective, saying the concept was strong and that the funding could enable further improvements. "This is a great complex, and we could do great things with this funding," Carter said.

The hearing allowed multiple speakers to outline the proposed facilities and express support; no formal decision to submit or accept grant terms was recorded. After public comment concluded, the board moved to close the public hearing and adjourn the meeting.

Ending: The board closed the public hearing and adjourned. No formal vote on awarding or approving PARTF Part F funding for the Richard B. Harrison Sports Complex was taken during the meeting; next steps and timelines for the grant application were not specified in the record.