Board unanimously approves development with Topgolf

RIDGELAND — The 77-acre Prado Vista development that will include over 200 homes and a Topgolf facility should be under construction by the end of the year, developers say.

Gabriel Prado, CEO & President of PraCon Global Investment Group, said his current expectations are that they could begin work on the development as early as December.

Developers still have to wait for a 10-day challenge period to elapse following the city’s unanimous approval of the Prado Vista Overlay District at Tuesday night’s regular meeting at City Hall that followed a public hearing

The development will be built in the northeastern corner of Sunnybrook Road and Colony Park Boulevard. It is said to include a national grocery chain, two high-end hotels, more than 100,000 square feet of office, retail and restaurant space, an entertainment venue, 228 homes, and a riverwalk but the feature that has drawn the most attention is a two-story Topgolf facility.

What is Topgolf? “In short, we’re a sports entertainment complex that features an inclusive, high-tech golf game that everyone can enjoy,” their website says, “Paired with an outstanding food and beverage menu, climate-controlled hitting bays and music, every Topgolf has an energetic hum that you can feel right when you walk through the door.” 

The Ridgeland site will be the first Topgolf in the state, according to Todd Waldo, a Topgolf representative, who presented during the public hearing.

The facility will feature a restaurant and bar, event spaces and roughly 60 hitting bays.

Mayor Gene F. McGee said he is excited for the development to break ground. He said he believes the developers have put a lot of work into ensuring the site will be a good neighbor.

“I think this development will be a tremendous asset for not only Ridgeland and Madison County, but the state as well,” McGee said.

McGee said this development is an example of continued growth in the city.

Waldo said the Topgolf  facility is projected to generate about $1 million in tax revenue and provide about 200 jobs. Prado said they do not have any calculations on what the other businesses in the proposed development could generate but said that Topgolf  facilities are generally a good sign that a community is “doing very well” and said it was an example of the “community multipliers” and economic impact such a development could have.

“All you have to do is look at Topgolf and you have a very good idea of where this development is headed,” Prado said.

No one who spoke during the public hearing opposed the development, though it was noted that two people who signed up to speak had left before the nearly two-hour meeting concluded.

Several residents of Ridgeland did speak. At least two speakers said they would be neighbors of the development, one saying she lived on Stokes Road and the other mentioning he was a resident of nearby St. Catheirne’s Village.

Neither said they had specific opposition or support for the development but noted that they had concerns about an increase of traffic in the area which in addition to clogging the roadways could bring in potential criminals to the city.

Both Fire Chief Matt Bailey and Police Chief Brian Myers spoke at the meeting saying they had reviewed some of the details of the development and had no major concerns.

Developers say they plan to have signalized entrances on Colony Park Boulevard as well as entrances and exits on Sunnybrook Road. They also plan to have concrete walls on the north and east edges of the property and have ensured the design minimizes both noise and light pollution to neighbors with a fifty-foot tree buffer between the property and St. Catherine’s Village.

Prado said the proposed riverwalk would not only be a feature of “aesthetic beauty” but would also serve as a retention pond for the site.

Seth Dean, a civil engineer on the development, said water accumulation has been a key issue they have aimed to address.

“Stormwater is a concern, and we’re going to be responsible for neighbors, collecting stormwater from our site, slowing down, treating it and discharging it in a safe manner,” Dean said.