Lincoln plans new youth baseball, softball complex with Nebraska Wesleyan worth up to $27 million | Nebraska Examiner

LINCOLN — Nebraska’s Capitol Metropolis joined the regional arms race in youth sports activities Wednesday, saying plans for a brand new venue with eight turf fields for baseball and softball.

The brand new Lincoln Youth Advanced is about to be constructed simply north of the College of Nebraska’s Haymarket Park and Bowlin Stadium, close to North 1st Avenue and Cornhusker Freeway.

Different Nebraska cities planning giant youth sports activities complexes embody Grand Island, Valley and La Vista. A lot of the constructing increase follows state tax breaks and an inflow of federal funds.

Boosters anticipate the Lincoln undertaking to value as much as $27 million, with many of the cash coming from federal coronavirus restoration funds, non-public donors and the West Haymarket Joint Public Company. 

The complicated is about to obtain $4.5 million in federal funds from the American Rescue Plan Act from the Metropolis of Lincoln and $4 million in ARPA funds from Lancaster County.

Organizers say they’ve secured pledges of as much as $10 million in non-public funds and can ask the West Haymarket JPA for $4.5 million, mentioned Chris Whitney of the Lincoln Chamber of Commerce. 

“There’s a dire have to develop our youth sports activities services and supply a vacation spot for extra individuals than ever earlier than,” mentioned Jeff Maul, vice chairman of the Lincoln Chamber.

Two of the fields can be championship-caliber — one every for baseball and softball. They may turn out to be dwelling fields for Nebraska Wesleyan College, which chipped in $2 million. 

Wesleyan’s baseball and softball groups at present play at metropolis parks.

Nebraska Wesleyan’s president, Dr. Darrin Good, mentioned the brand new complicated would increase the expertise for his faculty’s pupil athletes, in addition to “athletes from throughout the area.”

5 of the fields can be playable as baseball or softball fields, as a part of an effort to lure journey groups and their households to Lincoln, organizers mentioned.

Every of the dual-use fields might be repurposed within the low season for flag soccer, soccer, lacrosse and different sports activities, the Lincoln Conference and Guests Bureau mentioned in a launch.

Organizers mentioned the eighth area can be constructed to offer younger individuals with psychological and bodily disabilities a area for outside sports activities, “an area for gamers of all backgrounds and talents.”

The undertaking may even embody a playground and parking for greater than 750 automobiles, the discharge mentioned. The group expects building to start in spring 2023 and finish in fall 2024.

Nebraska Examiner Senior Reporter Paul Hammel contributed to this report.