Sheridan City Council members gave local recreation a big boost into the future by approving a land exchange and infrastructure agreement Monday night. The agreements allow the Doubleday Sports Complex to move closer to reality.

In 2011, Neltje donated 14 acres of land to the Sheridan Baseball Academy to develop a baseball/softball complex on the north side of Sheridan. But as the group dove into its plans, organizers realized they had an opportunity to benefit more than one aspect of recreation in Sheridan.

That realization, paired with discussions with Sheridan College representatives about future growth and use of its facilities spurred along discussions about creating a new sports complex in the area.

Now, Wrench Ranch owner Neltje has agreed to trade the 14 acres gifted in 2011 for a 45-acre plot a little farther north.

The land will be owned by the city of Sheridan, but managed pursuant to a land management agreement with the Sheridan Baseball Academy and an infrastructure agreement with the Doubleday Sports Complex organization.

“The city will own it, but the infrastructure agreement identifies the partners as the real driving force behind developing the new multi-sport area,” Sheridan Public Works Director Nic Bateson said Monday.

Several members of the community spoke in favor of the project at Monday’s Sheridan City Council meeting.

The Doubleday Sports Complex is awaiting approval of its official nonprofit status, according to Sheridan Recreation District Executive Director Richard Wright. That status will allow the group to accept donations for the facility. The Doubleday Sports Complex committee includes representatives from the Sheridan Recreation District, city of Sheridan, Sheridan County Soccer Association, Sheridan County Babe Ruth Baseball, Sheridan Softball Association, Sheridan Youth Baseball, North Main Association, Sheridan Travel and Tourism, Sheridan Baseball Academy and American Legion Baseball.

The project proposal includes multiple phases. The first will include the construction of one youth baseball/softball field, one adult softball field and one adult soccer field. It will also include parking and roads into the facility and a drilled well to provide irrigation water.

The total cost for the first phase is estimated at $1.4 million.

The road into the facility will benefit more than recreation, though. It will eventually be the same road used by an elementary school in the area. Sheridan County School District 2 had purchased property on the north side of Sheridan recently and said it will likely be developed in the next several years as the district continues to grow.

Sheridan Recreation District board member and Sheridan High School activities director Don Julian touched on that point Monday. He noted that SCSD2 has seen enrollment increase by an average of 51 students every year for the last 10 years. When that elementary school is up and running, he said, it will be close to the sports complex and will likely spur residential growth as well.

Wright said the first phase is expected to take a couple of years to complete and the Doubleday Sports Complex committee plans to begin fundraising this winter.

In total, the project includes four phases that will result in four youth baseball/softball fields, four adult softball fields, two adult soccer fields and multiple crossover youth soccer fields.

The complex is also planned to include seating for spectators, concession and restroom facilities, electrical, water, sewer and maintenance facilities for lawn mowing and operational needs.

The total estimated cost for the project is $8 million.

Organizers, though, say that the facility could bring money back into the community. The complex would allow Sheridan to host more athletic tournaments, bringing in athletes who will stay in local hotels, eat in local restaurants and shop in local stores.

In other business Monday, the Sheridan City Council:

• heard an update on local tax revenues.

• heard an update on fall street projects.

• approved on first reading the annexation of approximately 4.12 acres located at 1716 KROE Lane into the city.

• approved a number of various use alcohol permits.

• awarded a bid for $2,130,000 to Lilliard and Clark-Wyoming of Laramie for a four-million gallon concrete water tank at the Sheridan Water Treatment Plant.

• awarded a bid for $1,724,181 to RSCI of Boise, Idaho, for the waste water treatment plant biosolids handling improvements project.

• awarded a bid for $546,592 to High Land Inc. of Sheridan for the landscaping of West Fifth Street and West Loucks Street phase one project.

 

Source : thesheridanpress.com

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