Hays reveals new sports complex

With a six year old who loves soccer, we know a thing or two about youth sports and sports complexes. After reading about Hays’ new complex, with 8 baseball/softball fields, and 8 soccer/football fields, we can’t wait to see it in person, not only for the sports fields, but the covered playground as well. Little brothers and sisters of the world rejoice! They can hit the covered playground and busy themselves while big brother and sister play soccer. In addition to youth sports, adult sports will also be included at the complex. The Hays Recreation Commission has hired a sports complex manager to recruit tournaments beginning next year, so it will be just a matter of time before Hays is overrun with soccer/football/baseball/softball families, looking to spend money on hotel rooms, food, clothes and other supplies. It will almost certainly be a boon to the Hays regional economy.

Since its early planning stages, Hays’ Bickle/Schmidt Sports Complex has been a community effort.

Now, nearly three years and dozens of contractors, subcontractors, engineers, architects and community volunteers later, the complex, a symbol of teamwork, will have its official opening day Friday. A half-cent sales tax to fund the complex was approved by Hays voters in November 2008, and went into effect in April 2009. It is set to expire in 2013. The project also was funded through private donations from the Bickle and Schmidt families, and naming rights of Nex-Tech and Nex-Tech Wireless.

Sales tax collections to pay for the $8 million complex have been coming in a little higher than anticipated, Briseno said. Upon reaching the cap of $8 million to pay for the facility, remaining taxes will be used to operate and maintain the facility.

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