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Committee approves $358,000 to help close funding gap for Myers Sports Complex expansion
Summary
The finance committee approved a $358,000 transfer to the Myers Sports Complex expansion special projects fund to help the West Michigan Sports Commission cover cost overruns for synthetic turf and related construction costs.
The Kent County Board of Commissioners Finance Committee approved transferring and appropriating $358,000 to the FY2025 Myers Sports Complex expansion special projects fund to support the West Michigan Sports Commission's "winning streak" campaign.
Meeting materials said the West Michigan Sports Commission broke ground in late 2024 on improvements to the Myers Sports Complex that include upgrades to existing fields, a new championship softball field, three flexible diamond fields for youth baseball and softball, 20 pickleball courts and additional amenities for visiting families and athletes. County materials estimated the improvements would attract about 200 more teams annually and generate roughly $1,000,000 in new local spending.
The requested $358,000 was described as covering cost overruns for the championship baseball field synthetic turf project, primarily due to inflation following the COVID-19 pandemic. Jim Horman, board chair of the West Michigan Sports Commission, said weather delays and time-value-of-money effects influenced costs and that the campaign was about $400,000 short of its $13,500,000 target, with the campaign near $13,100,000.
Commissioner McCall and others asked about prior plans for cost overruns and whether Experience Grand Rapids (Experience GR) had been asked to increase its contribution. County staff said they had spoken with Experience GR, which had already made a significant gift, and had been asked to look elsewhere to fill the shortfall. Meeting materials and speakers noted the county has been a longstanding partner in creating and supporting the Commission and the county's prior investments and land transfers contributed to the project.
Commissioner Halstead made the recommendation (previously moved and seconded) and Commissioner Green supported it. The committee approved the transfer by voice vote.
Details: the funding will be used toward synthetic turf installation on the complex's championship baseball field and to help the sports commission close its campaign; the project is under construction for 2025 with an anticipated opening in April 2026 for fields and related amenities.
