In addition to buying 21-acres of land near the Bill Reynolds Sports Complex last month, the Bainbridge-Decatur County Recreation Authority added another piece of real estate to that purchase at a special called meeting Monday evening.

A six-acre lot adjacent to the basketball courts and the overflow parking area at the Bill Reynolds Sports Complex will be bought from DeHildren Realty for $65,000. The authority unanimously voted for the acquisition.

The transaction will be added to the 21-acres purchased for $168,000 for a total price of $233,000, or $8,629 per acre

The Recreation Authority cited a variety of reasons for the purchase, namely the land being the ideal location for a multiuse building and to protect the complex from other potential developers.

“The land was right in the middle of our recreation facility,” Recreation Authority Director Al Kelley said. “For future expansion, I think it was wise for the authority to go ahead and purchase that. To move the authority, we need the land and we will eventually need the facility.”

With 27 acres purchased and ideas brewing for futures facilities and offerings, Kelley said having the recreation complexes in a central location in Bainbridge was important.

“One thing that we already have is all of our sports go on at that same complex,” Kelley said. “It is easier to manage, the people are used to the area, it is secure. To me, that’s a no-brainer.”

The 21-acres purchased last month lies between the Billy Reynolds Sports Complex and the Earle May Boat Basin.

The Recreation Authority will begin providing services July 1. The authority is given 1.5 mils, or roughly $1.2 million, annually from Decatur County property taxpayers.