Opening Day for the new Columbia SportsPlex baseball and softball leagues is right around the corner, and construction crews are working hard to make sure they meet their tentative March 31 deadline.
Parks and Recreation Director Josh Smith said the key for the contractors to finish the SportsPlex in time is the weather holding up between now and March 31, and the current forecast is promising for the next two weeks to get a lot of work done. Currently contractors are pouring concrete in the concourse between fields.
“The fields are pretty much done, but the walkway is pretty much the holdup right now,” he said.
While Opening Day is tentatively scheduled for April 1, the city will make an official decision next week, which will hinge in large part on the weather staying clear enough for construction crews to finish the multi-million-dollar complex. In the event of bad weather causing Opening Day to be delayed, Smith said it would most likely only be pushed back a week.
Once the concrete work is done for the concourse, electrical work and landscaping will be the final obstacles to finishing the SportsPlex.
“You can see the end when you drive by. It looks like a ballpark now, like a nice complex,” Smith said. “We’re all ready to see the finished product and see how nice it is when kids are out there playing ball.”
Smith said registration is for the league is over, but if there is room it is still possible to add a few more kids in particular age groups. There have been more than 800 ball players sign up, which equates to roughly 75 teams. Dean Griner and Duckworth combined to have around 60 teams last season, indicating the new SportsPlex has increased community participation.
“We’re excited about the upcoming ball season,” Mayor Justin McKenzie said. “It is going to be an adjustment for everyone as we start a new league. But everybody involved is working hard to make it as organized as possible.”
For this season at least, the parking lot will consist of crushed concrete and will be able to hold around 700 vehicles, which is on pace to be finished prior to Opening Day. Smith said there are plans to pave it in the future.
The SportsPlex is expected to be a big financial boon for both Columbia and Marion County as it will allow the city to host much larger tournaments than was capable at Dean Griner. Attracting visitors for an event such as state tournaments or potential World Series would draw thousands to the county that have long gone to surrounding areas.
“We’re looking forward to welcoming people from all around to Columbia,” McKenzie said.
