BY SARAH STEPHENS
ELMORE/AUTAUGA NEWS OWNER
For those interested in what is happening with 17 Springs of Millbrook, a website is now available, but know it is a work in progress.
Travelers along Hwy. 14 in Millbrook have watched as the old junkyard was removed, and land has been cleared. Light poles are going up and a soccer field has new turf in place. Soccer games will begin this coming Monday.
To follow the progress, visit the website at www.17springs.org.
Years in the planning, five organizations stepped up with financial commitments to make this dream a reality. They include the City of Millbrook, Grandview Family YMCA/Montgomery Area YMCA, Elmore County Commission, Elmore County Board of Education and the Elmore County Economic Development Authority.
Phase 1 is in progress and Phase 2 will bring in the larger structures, stadium and much more. The scope of the project will be a lot clearer as early as next year.
The vision and the dream are becoming reality.
But there is a lot more coming with it. Have you heard about the Marketplace of 17 Springs? This will be retail, restaurants, entertainment and more along Hwy. 14. We hear the interest in these properties is already staggering, and it will be fun to see how it all plays out in the future.
While you can see the construction side from Hwy. 14, there are a lot of moving pieces behind the scenes. This massive project will bring new retail, facilities, and guests from throughout the state for tournaments and athletics. Stanhope Elmore High School will finally have access to a professional track and field venue. Area athletic teams will have a new, modern, professionally designed venue.
Quite simply, saying it is a game changer on so many levels, including economics, is a huge understatement.
The History (from the website)
In 2017, overlapping conversations between the City of Millbrook, Grandview Family YMCA, Elmore County Board of Education, Elmore County Economic Development Authority, and Elmore County Commission started the journey now referred to as 17 Springs. The name 17 Springs is rooted in a historic art festival hosted decades ago in the Millbrook community on the YMCA property.
Looking for an iconic name for the joint development of recreational, entertainment and retail opportunities, the partnership settled on 17 Springs as the name to serve as its brand. From the basis of 17 Springs, the recreational outdoor area has been dubbed “The Fields at 17 Springs” while the future event center has been named “The Fieldhouse at 17 Springs”. The adjacent commercial areas planned as a dining, hospitality, shopping and entertainment district carries the name “The Marketplace at 17 Springs.”
See proposed layout of the Marketplace of 17 Springs below.
