PCDC Pledges Funds to Construct Baseball/Softball Complex

Construction of a long-awaited Holdrege youth baseball/softball complex could begin as early as August with a major pledge from the Phelps County Development Corporation.

PCDC Executive Director Ron Tillery said the organization has designated $1 million in LB840 sales tax proceeds toward the project. Holdrege voters renewed the LB840 tax by 83 percent in November 2015. Of the $8 million projected income from the tax during the next 15 years, $1.6 million was set aside for community preparedness and quality of life. The baseball complex fits into that category.

PCDC is working in partnership with the City of Holdrege on the project, which is currently in the design phase. The complex will be located on about 13 acres of ground just east of the Holdrege Elementary School in northwest Holdrege. The Phelps County Community Foundation granted the land to the City of Holdrege in 2015 for the project.

The complex will include two softball fields and two baseball fields, a concession stand with restrooms and a press box.

Tillery said the City and PCDC are hoping to work with another local entity to form a JPA (Joint Public Agency) that would manage and own the complex and recruit tournaments to the area. 

The total cost of the complex won’t be known until the design and engineering process is complete, Tillery said. Other fundraising may be necessary to complete the project.

If construction begins as planned, the fields could be ready for play by the summer of 2018.