Site design of Delaware sports complex unveiled

Plans for an 80 acre sports complex in Kent County continue to move forward.

Representatives of the Kent County Sports Complex unveiled the final site design plan today during the Greater Kent County committee meeting.

The complex will feature 12 tournaments fields. The main field will be located in front of a 1,500 person grandstand while the others will be spread throughout the complex.

The fields will feature synthetic turf and will be used by local and regional soccer, field hockey and lacrosse teams.

“When it rains you won’t lose the ability to play on the field, if it’s grass and it rains and gets mushy and soft, you can’t play on the field without tearing it up,” said Gregory Moore, a representative with the Greater Kent County committee. “They’re more durable, and I can tell you it is long term and has lower-maintenance costs.”

Scoreboards, lighting, restrooms, gazebos and concession buildings will be spread throughout the center located off Rt. 1 in Frederica.

The project is estimated at $24 million.

“We’re marketing this venue for major tournaments so there could be interscholastic tournaments held statewide, but our goal is to bring people in from Maryland, Virginia, Pennsylvania and New York,” said Moore. “After Firefly, we know there are millions and millions of people demographically very close to us and our goals are to bring those people here for tournaments.”

Kent County leased the land to the complex and the state legislature approved nearly a million dollars for the facility in the FY2014 bond bill. Another $3.2 million was allocated from the infrastructure fund.

Moore said they’ll also use tax-free bonds and funding from the USDA.

Complex organizers are still in the design phase and are working closely with DelDOT.

“It is important to us that the Department of Transportation proceeds with its Frederica interchange project because we have designed our project around it,” explained Moore.

Moore said they hope to break ground next year and have the facility completed by the end of 2015.