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Connersville breaks ground on River's Edge sports complex; tree dedicated to coach Keith Smith
Summary
Connersville leaders on March 28, 2026, broke ground on the River's Edge Sports Complex and held a memorial tree dedication for Keith "Smitty" Smith. Officials credited long-term partnerships and local financing that kept tax rates flat and said first games are expected in 2027.
Marla Steele, superintendent of the Connersville Parks Department, dedicated the first memorial tree on Sunday for Keith Smith — known as "Smitty" — and opened a ceremonial groundbreaking for the River's Edge Sports Complex on March 28, 2026, saying the site will include new baseball fields, a playground and expanded parking.
The project, Steele said, began after a 2006 donation from Ohio Valley Gas and advanced after the city purchased adjacent land in 2015. Partnerships with the Fayette County Foundation and the Indiana Department of Natural Resources helped secure early funding; Steele thanked local contractors and consultants involved in the work. "This investment is not just about fields and facilities. It's about creating opportunities, building place making for our community, and supporting healthy active lifestyles for generations to come," Steele said.
Mayor Frank described the project as long-awaited and credited the city controller, Adam Stone, with finding a financing approach that "kept the tax rates flat." The mayor said the consolidation of soccer, baseball and softball facilities in one location will reduce maintenance burdens and make it easier to keep fields playable. "This is one of the projects I did not think I'd see done in my term," he said.
Logan Newcomb, the city's sports director, said the new fields should cut weather-related cancellations and allow for more evening play. "Just being able to play more games, that's my biggest goal," Newcomb said, adding that the improvements should let games continue after heavy rain.
Steele also announced a memorial plaque and additional trees will be installed once final land work is complete, and she invited attendees to stay after the ceremony for an Easter egg hunt for children ages 2 to 12, photos with the Easter Bunny and a group photoshoot with the mayor, park staff and elected officials. Steele said she expects the complex to host its first baseball games in 2027.
Acknowledgments at the ceremony named local firms and individuals involved in the project: GM Development (Greg Martz and Patrick Davis), Schutte Excavating (Brad Schutte), Mader Design (Jeff Mader) and LandWorks Engineering (Keith Cruz). Steele also noted the contribution of the Fayette County Foundation and the Indiana Department of Natural Resources to early funding.
No formal motions or votes were recorded during the ceremony; speakers limited comments to remarks of appreciation, project background and event logistics. The dedication and ceremonial groundbreaking concluded without formal action, and the city will proceed with construction steps and installation of the memorial plaque as the site work is finished.
