Youth Softball Sport Complex Proposal - …

1 Youth Softball Sport Complex Proposal June 22, 2006. Diego Barrera Jason Buchta Jennifer Pittmon Lindsey Walesheck Table of Contents Summary ..3. Introduction ..4. Berl Huffman Complex and Mackenzie Park ..4. Little League Complex 5. Bill Williams Softball Complex ..6. Proposed Program 8. Funding 8. Architectural services bidding and Pre-Design services ..8. 50th Street and Upland Avenue site .9. Milwaukee Avenue and site ..10. Indiana Avenue and 114th Street 10. Design 11. Construction services bidding and construction 14. Budget 15. Public Partnership ..15. Park and Recreation Gift Catalog ..15. Community Roundtable .15. Funding Sources .16. Corporate Sponsorships.

2 16. Mandatory Donations ..16. Private Donors ..16. Bond Package .16. Construction Budget ..17. Budget Timeline .17. Maintenance Budget ..17. Qualifications and Experience ..18. Diego Barrera .18. Jason Buchta ..18. Jennifer Pittmon .18. Lindsey Walesheck 18. Appendices .19. Appendix A: Berl Huffman Complex 19. Appendix B: Mackenzie Park Fields .20. Appendix C: Lubbock Western Little League Fields 21. Appendix D: Bill Williams Softball Complex ..22. Sources ..24. 2. Summary The city of Lubbock, Texas is in need of a Youth Softball Sport Complex for the city residents to have a place to participate in extracurricular Softball games and tournaments. Currently, the community contains a Softball field that hosts smaller Softball tournaments for the city of Lubbock, but due to its size does not meet the required needs to host more prestigious tournaments.

3 Lubbock is a growing city that puts emphasis on the participation in extracurricular activities as a large factor of entertainment. Throughout numerous sporting events, Texas Tech University is recognized nationwide for their placement in the Big XII Conference; however, Lubbock is being overlooked to host many prominent Youth Softball tournaments due to inadequate facilities. Constructing a Youth Softball Sport Complex would bring money into the city by creating the opportunity to host tournaments that we are currently losing to other neighboring cities that are provided with adequate Softball facilities, seating and parking. Having the ability to host these larger tournaments will result in an increase in revenue for the city of Lubbock and enhancement of the local economy.

4 A Youth Softball Complex will also increase the amount of citizen involvement while expanding extracurricular activities available to children. Three locations are suggested of where the twelve fields of the Youth Softball Complex could be located which include 50th Street and Upland Avenue, Milwaukee Avenue and , and Indiana Avenue and 114th Street. With our organized project timeline of the proposed project, Lubbock should be able to begin hosting these tournaments by February 2009. Various ways to fund this project include donations, various fundraisers, and community participation. With the present commitment from our team, funding this Softball Complex is very realistic goal.

5 We have a very qualified team working on this project. Jason Buchta, our team leader, is a sports management major who has experience working in a recreational setting. Diego Barrera is an architecture major who has experience in designing facilities. Lindsey Walesheck is an Exercise and sports Sciences major who has personally experienced participating in recreational Softball leagues. Jennifer Pittmon is a Human Development and Family Studies major who works with children who participate in various Youth sports leagues in Lubbock. 3. Introduction The city of Lubbock, Texas is currently in need of a Youth Softball Sport Complex . At this time, the Berl Huffman Complex which is located at Loop 289 and Clovis Highway hosts small Softball tournaments for the city of Lubbock.

6 This Complex is inadequate at hosting large national qualifying tournaments due to the number and availability of Softball fields. Due to the scarce number of Softball fields, the Berl Huffman Complex is used only for adult leagues therefore making the main Youth Softball league in Lubbock, South Plains Girls Fastpitch, forced to play on fields at Mackenzie Park which are inadequate due to quality, age, and the number of fields available. Creating a Youth Softball Complex for the city of Lubbock will benefit the city in several ways. Constructing a Youth Softball Complex that holds a large amount of Softball fields, has the proper established facilities, and has an adequate amount of parking will provide a location for our local Youth to participate in extracurricular activities, and it will also be able to host large national qualifying tournaments.

7 These national qualifying tournaments will enhance the local economy by bringing money into the city that we are currently losing to other neighboring cities. The Youth Softball Complex will also create a safe, enjoyable, and entertaining environment for the participants to benefit from and the parents to feel comfortable and safe sending their children to. Berl Huffman Complex and Mackenzie Park Establishing an efficient Youth Softball Complex in Lubbock will give our city the opportunity to host various types of Softball tournaments which will bring visitors in from other cities and states. Currently, the Berl Huffman Complex has 4 Softball fields that can be used for smaller organized tournaments.

8 These tournaments do bring money into the city, but at the same time, we are losing the more prestigious and larger tournaments to other cities with superior facilities. The fields at Mackenzie Park are not suitable for bringing people in from outside of town to play at, and do not contribute in enhancing an outsider's view of Lubbock. Later this month, a Youth Softball Tournament is scheduled at the Berl Huffman Complex and it is expected to fill more then 260 hotel rooms and generate $375,000 in visitor spending. With an adequate Softball establishment Lubbock could partake in the opportunity of hosting many of these tournaments in addition with the larger tournaments which would bring in an excessive amount of income to the city of Lubbock through the purchases of hotel rooms, restaurants, transportation prices, and leisurely shopping expenses.

9 For additional pictures of the Berl Huffman Complex see Appendix A. For additional pictures of Mackenzie Park Field see Appendix B. 4. Lubbock's current Youth Softball League gives all willing individuals the opportunity to participate in the league by joining a team and partaking in regular scheduled practices and games. At present, the city of Lubbock has 794 Youth participants involved in Youth Softball . This number makes up 59 teams .There is an availability of only 3 permanent fields and two part-time use fields throughout the city of Lubbock. With the outstanding participation number that Lubbock possesses at this time, each team only has the opportunity to participate in 1-2.

10 Games each week making up a total of 8 games throughout the season. The low number and availability of Softball fields contributes to the short seasons for the participants, the over crowdedness of the playing fields throughout the weeks, and the trouble of having to travel to other cities to participate in tournaments during the weekends. A Youth Softball Sport Complex that included more Softball fields would help solve the problems that the current Youth Softball League of Lubbock is facing right now. The Lubbock sports Authority is non-profit city government organization whose express mission is, To establish Lubbock as the sports Capital of West Texas and Eastern New Mexico.