Lebanon approves Jimmy Floyd Center renovation, racquetball courts to be removed

Lebanon’s plan to renovate the Jimmy Floyd Center will reshape everyday racquetball access in Wilson County, and not in the sport’s favor. The $3.7 million project approved by the City Council removes the existing racquetball courts, even as the facility prepares for new carpet, locker rooms, expanded childcare and group fitness areas, a larger free weight room, a family restroom with pool access, indoor pickleball space and adjustable basketball goals.

That tradeoff landed squarely at the center of the council’s debate. City officials and residents who pushed to keep racquetball said the loss of the courts would shrink one of the center’s established programs. Phil Morehead said preserving just one court would add about $300,000 to the renovation bill, a figure that helped push the council toward the broader redesign.

Facility Director Alex Major said the building has not had a front-to-back renovation in 27 years, a timeline that underscored why the city moved forward with a major update. Major, who said he has worked at the Jimmy Floyd Center since he was 15 years old, described the project as part of a long-delayed effort to modernize the facility for current use. He said the work could be done in phases, with construction possibly not beginning until early 2027.

The council first discussed the renovation plan during a June 1 work session and a June 2 City Council meeting before scheduling a special called meeting for June 8 to vote again on the budget and renovation. The result was approval of the package and rejection of the effort to keep the racquetball courts, a decision that reflects a broader shift in municipal recreation toward pickleball and multipurpose space.

That shift matters because racquetball is still a live program at the Jimmy Floyd Family Center, not a relic. The center lists racquetball as a current facility feature, says the program is growing, and points to an annual Summer Slam Tournament and an active league. Its mission is to promote wellness for youth, families and senior citizens, making the courts part of a larger community service role rather than a standalone amenity.

The building itself carries local history, too. Named for Jimmy Floyd, a Lebanon native, the center sits on land the city says was donated by the Floyd and Baxter families. As Lebanon moves ahead with the renovation, the question is no longer whether the center will be improved, but which sports will have space in the upgraded version of it.