News May 21, 2020

National Public Works Week: Jacobs Helps Cricket Become a Smash in Johns Creek

As we celebrate National Public Works Week, May 17 to 22, we’re highlighting how Jacobs is playing a key role in the rhythm of a community.

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Batting Cages Johns Creek

The 2020 National Public Works Week theme is The Rhythm of Public Works, which celebrates communities as a symphony of essential services, working together to create a great place to live. A key element of community satisfaction is learning how to adapt to changes within a city and its residents, something our Jacobs team in Johns Creek, Georgia, knows well.

The City of Johns Creek has become the most diverse city in Georgia, home to numerous residents from Asia, Great Britain, Australia and New Zealand. And with the influx in people comes an influx of cultural influences and passions. These residents specifically have introduced a cultural enthusiasm for the sport of cricket.

The sport has been around for hundreds of years, but only recently has gained in popularity in the states. To accommodate cricket enthusiasts, the Johns Creek Recreation and Parks Department, which is operated and managed by Jacobs, established a master plan to design and build one turf cricket pitch and three batting cages at Shakerag Park. The pitch will open up to residents this month, while the batting cages opened in June 2019 with a great reception from the community.

“The cricket facilities in Johns Creek are allowing the citizens to not only participate in the second biggest sport in the world, but also provide a platform for youth development and community engagement for a healthy lifestyle,” said community resident and cricket enthusiast, Shafiq Jadavji.

Cricket Pitch Johns Creek

Part of the master plan for what will be Johns Creek’s largest park, the 200-acre Cauley Creek Park, which is currently being developed, is a regulation cricket pitch. The regulation pitch will be utilized for junior league and nonprofessional play. The Johns Creek Cricket Association will bring cricket lovers together and facilitate cricketing activities.

“I had to quickly become acquainted with the sport, but the community’s response to the cages has been overwhelming,” said Jacobs City of Johns Creek Parks Director Robby Newton. “The cages have been in constant use, becoming the most popular amenity at the park. The park has become a regional hub for the cricket community as well, including both youth and adult players.”

As these are the only publicly available cricket amenities provided by a Recreation and Parks agency in the Southeast, the City of Nashville requested a field trip to see Johns Creek’s resources. A park design firm from Nashville will visit the facilities later this year to learn best practices.

“Creating first-class recreation amenities and facilities for our community is a priority for Johns Creek," said Johns Creek City Manager Ed Densmore. "We are excited to not only welcome the sport of cricket into our already diverse community but also eager to become a regional hub for the development of the game and its devoted enthusiasts." 

Jacobs and the City of Johns Creek have been partners since its incorporation in 2006, with Jacobs providing a range of municipal services, including public works, community development, transportation management and parks maintenance, among others. Since then, it has become the 10th largest city in Georgia, and Jacobs has been a key partner in providing quality services to accommodate the rapid growth.