The City of Fayetteville and Fort Bragg officials have signed off on an agreement to construct a new sports complex on 70 acres of undeveloped property near Interstate 295 and McArthur Road. 

The complex project, which was one of several Fayetteville-Cumberland Parks and Recreation Bond Projects in development, was approved in a Fayetteville City Council meeting in October with support from Mayor Mitch Colvin.

Some of the remaining Bond Projects that have yet to be started or are in progress include a tennis center, the Western Senior Center, a splash pad at E. Melvin Honeycutt and Cape Fear River Park, to name a few. 

The overall budget for the bond projects is $35 million dollars. The current budget for the sports complex is $3.67 million dollars. 

“We are excited to bring this project one step closer to fruition, but we are even more excited about this new partnership with Fort Bragg that will provide us with 70 acres of additional park land conveniently located along I-295,” City Manager Doug Hewett said in a press release. 

“Once completed, this facility will provide athletic fields not only for local teams, but for hosting larger athletic tournaments and sporting events. I want to thank Lt. Gen. Erik Kurilla and Col. Scott Pence for making this partnership possible.”

Aside from athletic fields, the masterplan for the complex features a playground, restrooms, storm water ponds, trails, parking spaces and open areas.

“This is a win-win for Fort Bragg and for the City of Fayetteville and we appreciate their partnership,” said Col. Scott Pence.

“More than 70 percent of our service members and their families live in Fayetteville and the surrounding communities. Providing the land for the complex directly benefits our service members and families, as well as the 100,000+ Veterans and family members who reside here.”

The projected completion of the design of the complex is December 31, 2021. The initial construction period will begin in 2022.