Meeting Will Address Softball Park Concerns

Neighborhood concerns about the proposed NorthPointe Softball Complex, including plans for the sale of wine and beer, will be discussed at a community hearing next Wednesday.

The complex is proposed near Colton and Howard roads on the North Side. The community meeting will be held at 7 p.m. May 14 in the Shiloh Hills Elementary School library.

The $3.2 million project is to be built on 34 acres of city park land.

As proposed, the complex includes five lighted softball fields, two volleyball courts, two basketball courts, an inline-skate hockey rink, concession stand, a skateboard area, a park and playground, and parking for 375 cars.

Park officials say the neighborhood park and playground won’t be built without the sports complex.

“They are a package proposal,” said Marion Severud, spokeswoman for the parks department. “If the softball complex proposal falls through, then it could be years, depending on funding, before the neighborhood park and playground are built.”

According to projections, the sports complex will bring in a net profit of about $80,000 per year. The profit, however, is dependent on beer and wine sales averaging $100,000 per year, and food and soft drink sales of $206,000.

The beer and wine sales have concerned some neighbors. Others have complained about the lighting and the increased traffic. Alcoholic beverages are allowed at city golf courses, and by permit at Riverfront Park, but are forbidden at other city parks.

Next month, the city will ask private companies to submit proposals to build and operate the complex.

In the meantime, the lot has been seeded with several hundred pounds of alfalfa and rye grass, and the slopes seeded with wildflowers.

“It’s a temporary measure to solve the dust problem until a decision is made on the softball complex,” said Severud.

, DataTimes