- November 26, 2024
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A sports complex feasibility study was proposed to the Palm Coast City Council at their Tuesday Oct. 11 workshop meeting.
The study, estimated to cost $113,870, will be conducted by Sports Facilities Companies and will determine the market demand in the area for a sports complex geared towards competitive youth sports.
Palm Coast Mayor David Alfin said the future development is a magnet and a catalyst for the city.
“It can become, and I think it will become, a model for the state of Florida,” Alfin said, "by denoting the Greenway and animal quarters right up front. Staking those out and doing our development work around that - we know what our priority is."
Sports Facilities Companies is the company city staff chose for the study, pending approval from the city council. They have 19 years of experience, according to the presentation by Assistant City Manager Lauren Johnston. They've completed similar sports complexes like the Paradise Coast Sports Complex in Naples and the Publix Sports Park in Panama City Beach.
The envisioned sports complex will draw people in who are traveling south for competition-grade sport fields, Alfin said. Vice Mayor Eddie Branquinho said the positive economic impact this complex could bring is a great investment, especially for the kids.
"There's no such thing as a bad payment invested in kids," Branquinho said.
The study will take place in two parts, Johnston said. First is a market and competitive analysis scheduled for one to 12 weeks that will identify the regional market demand and potential economic benefits, as well as what facilities would be most in demand in the area.
The second task, Johnston said, would be contingent on the results of the first study, but would include a development plan, financial analysis and economic projection, and take an estimated of 12 to 20 weeks to complete.
Johnston said that the city has identified this as a priority part of the city's planned westward expansion. The area identified for this complex is just west past the roundabout at Matanzas Woods Parkway and U.S. Highway 1, near the Sunshine Express and Amoco gas station.
The target start date for this sports complex is December 2022, with a target completion date of December 2024.
