Cabot likes to be first. Whether it’s standing atop the winner’s podium or charting a new path for its community, Cabot has positioned itself as a city willing to invest in recreation for its citizens. This is reflected in the development of Game Time at The Grounds, a 128,000‑square‑foot indoor sports complex designed for both tournaments and daily public use.
“We had a dream, a vision,” Cabot Mayor Ken Kincade said. “And we were the first in the state of Arkansas to build this facility.”
The facility hosts a range of activities depending on the day of the week, including basketball, volleyball, pickleball, indoor soccer and other programs. Tournament weekends draw families from across the Mid-South, increasing foot traffic in local restaurants and stores. City officials say that growth in sales tax revenue has allowed for additional investment in parks, programs and infrastructure.
For Kincade, the project also reflects how residents engage with youth sports.
“When you have a complex like this, you can have a whole lot of teams participating,” he said. “But with that, you’ve got to have coaches. Parents step up, and they become part of our community. It’s awesome to know we have so many parents instilling values in the lives of our kids.”
Cabot voters approved the facility through a bond issue in 2021, with 80% casting ballots in favor. City leadership cites the vote as evidence of support for expanded youth amenities.
For residents, the impact is personal. “Being a mom, my two kids, we enjoy everything that’s here,” said Rachel Abbott, the city’s economic development and marketing director. “You can tell that this town was built around families and it just continues.”
Abbott said the facility also provides access to recreation for families who don’t participate in competitive leagues. “Not everyone can do travel ball,” she said. “We have a facility here that you can come after school. This place is open every afternoon. You can come here on the weekends.”
The city is also using the space for new programming. “We did a new event this year at this facility,” Abbott said. “We did Summer Starts Here. We gave away summer goodies. We had towels, we did haircuts, different things like that.”
At the same time, Cabot is working to connect with the broader region. A multi‑use trail system is underway that will link miles across central Arkansas. The first phase has already broken ground downtown near the high school.
“That trail will ultimately connect through central Arkansas,” Abbott said. “You’ll be able to bike, walk, run—however you want to use it. And it’s going to bring more opportunities for economic growth in our area.”
Having the first phase begin in downtown, she added, is “very vital and very awesome for us.”
Looking ahead, Cabot’s future is bright, Kincade said. “Our future is going to be something that you just open up a blank sheet of paper and you start writing great things on. No matter how it changes, how it expands, how it develops, it will always be home.”
About this Series
State of Play is a new series that explores how Arkansas cities and towns are investing in active, healthy lifestyles for their residents. From trail systems and bike infrastructure to parks, wellness programs and community design, each installment highlights local leaders and bold ideas reshaping what it means to live well in Arkansas. Sponsored by Municipal Health, State of Play celebrates the places where movement meets momentum.
