This morning, April 30, the City of Fayetteville braved the rain to break ground on the new Fayetteville-Cumberland Parks and Recreation sports complex. The complex is being built on McArthur Road, between I-295 and Lake Mont Court.
“Today is not just a ceremony. It's a promise kept, a promise we made to the residents of the other when they went to the close in 2016 and said, ‘Yes, we want to invest in our parks and our recreation and in our future.’ Today, we are delivering on that promise in a big way. This sports complex represents one of the final major milestones of our Parks and Recreation Bond, and it reflects who we are as a city, a community that believes in investing in the health, well-being and opportunity for every resident,” shared City Manager Doug Hewett.
After an extensive search for land, the City partnered with Fort Bragg and signed a 30-year lease to build the complex on approximately 70 acres of undeveloped federal land.
“This new space is designed to expand recreational opportunities for residents across the city, across the county and across the entire region,” shared District 1 Representative Dr. Stephon Ferguson. “Let me paint you a picture of what will be on these grounds, 12 ball fields – giving our youth leagues, travel teams and competitive athletes of all ages, room to play, develop and excel, a multi use building complete with restrooms, concessions and office space so that players, families and visitors have everything they need for a long day, an open air pavilion, a space where community comes to life, a dedicated maintenance building to ensure this facility remains top notch for decades to come, and last, but certainly not least, a playground and splash pad for our younger fans and our residents to play and enjoy. This isn’t just a sports complex, it’s a community hub, a gathering place, a place where Fayetteville will host athletes and families from across the region and beyond.”
The total budget for this parks and recreation project is $20.6 million. $3.6 million from the voter-approved 2016 Parks & Recreation Bond is funding the addition to Fayetteville's recreation amenities. City Council recently awarded the construction contract to Group III Management in the amount of $13.6 million.
“This is a smart investment in recreation and in economic development. Make no mistake about it, Fayetteville is becoming a true sports destination, and this complex is a cornerstone of that vision,” added Ferguson.
“By this time next year, this space will look completely different. It will be completely transformed with fields and lights and families and good competition,” shared Mayor Mitch Colvin.
