By Nathan Isaacs, Tri-City Herald, Kennewick, Wash. Knight Ridder/Tribune Business News
Oct. 11--Budget constraints may force Kennewick to consider a scaled down version of the proposed sports complex in the city's Southridge neighborhood.
The city wants to build a sports complex big enough to draw local, regional and even national sporting events to the city.
However, the price tag for the project's premium plan has risen to $16 million since an early summer estimate of $12 million.
Such a complex would include:
Four lighted, tournament quality softball fields.
Two tournament quality baseball fields.
One to two multipurpose pavilions for year-round soccer and winter baseball camps and clinics.
At least one adult-sized soccer field.
A multipurpose field for soccer practice or community events.
A group picnic area and amphitheater.
A children's play area.
A 10,000-square foot restaurant and concession area.
Plenty of parking, including spaces for recreational vehicles.
The sports complex would be built at a 60-acre site west of Highway 395 and south of West 27th Avenue. Southridge High School is to the southwest and Wal-Mart to the northeast. The city bought the site in 2002 for $800,000 from the state Department of Natural Resources.
After several public meetings with Kennewick and Mid-Columbia groups that would use the facility, the Kennewick Parks and Recreation Commission is expected to make a recommendation Thursday on the project so the city council can discuss it at an Oct. 19 meeting.
The parks board meets 7 p.m. in the council chambers, 210 W. Sixth Ave.
Another factor in deciding the project's scope is the annual costs for the project, estimated at $1.47 million for maintenance and operation and any debt service.
It's estimated the city could collect half that in revenue and possibly charge admission to earn the other half.
It's going to be a tough choice to go into debt for a ballfield while the city lays off several employees and leaves other positions vacant because the city has to make up a forecasted $4 million deficit in its next two-year operating budget.
One option is to break the project up into phases.
The city set aside $4 million last year for the project after it sold some council-approved bonds.
That money could pay for two unlighted softball fields and grade for one baseball field. The money also could be used to complete the massive amount of infrastructure work required at the site, including moving sewer and water lines and adding irrigation lines and sand to level the fields.
Council members, during a recent workshop on the issue, understood the need for a phased development, but also expressed their desire to see the premium complex built.
Not only would such a complex improve the city's quality of life, it also would be an economic engine for tourism dollars, they said.
Tourism officials from the Tri-Cities Visitors & Convention Bureau reported that 70 percent of hotel bookings in the Tri-Cities are associated with sporting events. And they've said the proposed sports complex has the potential for generating $2 million to $3 million annually in business.
The proposed complex, with its collection of softball, baseball and multi-use fields and other amenities, also would be expected to alleviate current demands for softball ballfields, expected to worsen if the city moved forward with a new building for its police and fire departments at the civic center ballfields.
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