Commissioner raises questions about proposed Marble Falls sports complex
MARBLE FALLS — A city commissioner raising questions about the cost of a proposed multimillion-dollar sports complex says the city already has athletic fields that could be upgraded for a lot less.
The debate surfaced Sept. 10 as the seven-member Parks and Recreation Commission heard about the complex, which was first vetted during four previous steering committee meetings.
The complex, if eventually approved by City Council, could cost $36 million.
While most of the commission absorbed the information presented by Parks and Recreation Department Director Robert Moss, one commissioner expressed doubts.
“It’s not first-class or nothing,” said Steve Manley. “We should look at what we can do for a whole lot less money at existing fields and add new fields. To just buy this thing hook, line and sinker, I think, is wrong. It’s amazing we would even consider that.”
But Moss said the city’s current fields are below standard.
“If they are below standard, how is it we’ve got to the point the current fields are below standard and we’re looking at a $36 million sports complex when (the city) would have to maintain them?” Manley said.
Moss said most of the city’s fields were built years ago by volunteers and now the city has to keep them up.
“Aside from the economic impact, it’s something that is just good for the community, regardless of bringing anyone else in,” Moss said.
City Manager Ralph Hendricks agreed.
“If you look at the growing communities in our state, they are all on this or working on it,” he said. “You take care of the youth coming up, and give an area for those who are retired to exercise and continue quality-of-life issues.”
For several months the steering committee, which includes representatives of area athletic leagues, has been reviewing a feasibility and economic-impact study that looks at whether a sports complex is right for Marble Falls.
Consultants CSL International and Baker-Aicklen & Associates conducted the study, which could be considered next month by the City Council and commission in a joint workshop.
The consultants indicated the region would support a sports complex with softball, baseball, soccer fields and tennis courts. The study said that people typically travel within a 200-mile radius for tournaments.
More than 19 million people live within that radius, and 3 million participate in those core sports, officials said.
Based on those numbers, the consultants recommended building facilities in phases. The first would include baseball fields, a multi-purpose field and tennis courts at a cost of $4 million-$5.1 million. A second phase of soccer, football and softball fields would cost $4.1-$4.7 million.
The economic impact study said that the first two phases could bring more than 230,000 visitors in the first year and create more revenue than expenses.
A third and fourth phase, consisting of a 60,000-square-foot indoor sports facility and a 40,000-square-foot swim center, would cost $12 million and $14 million, respectively, and make less than 50 percent of expenses.
The first two phases of such a complex could bring hundreds of new jobs to the area and tax revenues of nearly $10 million over 30 years, the study said.