CITY OF WADSWORTH PURCHASES LAND FOR NEW SPORTS COMPLEX

BY NOELLE ALLEN

The city of Wadsworth has decided to purchase over 200 acres of land in an aspiration to create a sports complex and public park. The site is located on a property beside The Village of St. Edwards retirement community, which previously housed a brick factory. For years this site has been idle and Wadsworth has been investigating further use of the property for some time.

On October 17, 2022, the purchase was made. The project was further discussed at last week’s City Hall meeting. Many members have encouraged the continuation of the project and are eager for the benefits it is projected to bring to the city.

Danielle Maur, president and CEO of The Village retirement community, reported her excitement on behalf of the establishment about the purchase of the neighboring land.

“We believe that this would be a great asset not only to the Wadsworth community but also to the residents of the Village of Saint Edward,” Maur said.

Other communities around Wadsworth, such as the youth baseball program, have expressed interest in the project as well. Mike Noll, president of Wadsworth Youth Baseball, is very much in favor of the --- due to the plans to create multiple new baseball and softball fields of differing sizes. These fields will be available for both youth and high school teams to utilize for practices, games, or tournaments. Noll believes that hosting tournaments at this complex could potentially bring in substantial profit for the city.

“This is a great opportunity for this city and youth baseball,” Noll said, “A sports complex in this location would be key.”

The complex is planned to include a number of other athletic and recreational features such as tennis and pickleball courts, hiking trails, mountain biking trails, a fishing pond, playgrounds, and more.

Funding for the project has been allotted in this years budget. The Public Service Committee also received a targeted Brownfields Assessment Grant from the Ohio EPA which helped pay 100% of phase one and two of the environmental site assessment.

Phase one focused on overview of the entire site to determine the quality of the land. Phase two is currently in motion as further testing and sampling. So far, the results from sampling have been very positive and continue to encourage the continuation of the project.

The city plans on using general funds surplus to go towards improvements in the future and for any remaining funds needed they would look for further grant funding or borrowing.

Plans are currently being made to remove the remaining masses of bricks and cement from the property. The city is working with a local company to go onto the site and begin crushing and recycling the debris to potentially reuse as road base or parking lot base in the future.

This project will offer opportunities that Wadsworth has never seen before. The city has never had any sports area as wideranged and all inclusive as this.

Members of the Wadsworth City Council are hopeful of the positive impacts this expansion could have on the community.

“We are encouraged and excited about the possibilities for this athletic complex,” said Robert Patrick, Public Service Directer of Wadsworth, “We believe this will set the community up for many generations to come.