After much anticipation, ground was broken Tuesday morning on the $27-million Sandhills Global Youth Complex at 1st and Cornhusker. It will feature five youth baseball and softball fields and two fields for the Nebraska Wesleyan University baseball and softball teams.
There will also be a field dedicated to Homer’s Heroes, a program for physical or intellectual disabilities. “Along with it’s beneficial economic impacts, these ballfields have immense potential to positively impact the lives of our youth and our families and young people not only locally, but across out state and region,” says Mayor Leirion Gaylor Baird.
The City and County contributed money to the project and Sandhills Global made a $4 million gift toward the project. “With this complex, Lincoln and Lancaster County will enjoy an economic super charger, bringing more visitors to our hotels and attractions and more dollars into our local shops and restaurants,” says Lancaster County Commissioner Sean Flowerday.
Also on hand for the ceremony was former Husker and Major League Baseball player Darin Erstad. He’s a board member for Youth Complex Board. “Our vision was about the kids, about the youth of this area. That’s investing in these kids, investing in opportunities for them, investing in this community.”
Samson Construction will immediately begin construction. The project is scheduled to be completed in late 2024 and be ready for play in the spring of 2025.
