New $12 Million Sports Complex Draws Teams and Tournaments to Town
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Baseballs and softballs are replacing the planes that once flew through the air at the former municipal airport in Rocky Mount.
The airport was decommissioned in 1981 after 60 years of service. Since that time‚ the land was largely unused – until the city of Rocky Mount acquired the property and began transforming it into a sports paradise. The city opened the Rocky Mount Sports Complex in November 2006.
The complex features 11 baseball and softball fields – including six for youth play – four multipurpose fields‚ and one championship diamond in two circular hubs. At the center of each hub are concession buildings‚ with rooms for offices and umpire meeting rooms. Six hundred paved parking spaces provide ample room for vehicles.
Each field is based on state-of-the-art design and materials‚ with Lewisburg clay on the basepaths and genetically engineered grass for greater resistance to wear. All of the diamonds are lighted.
Monday through Thursday‚ baseball and softball leagues use the diamonds‚ with players ranging in age from 5 to 70. The facility is dedicated to tournament play on weekends.
The $12 million athletic park will benefit the community on several fronts‚ says Ben Layton‚ director of the sports complex. Convenience is one factor. The complex puts all games in one location‚ rather than spreading them out on various diamonds throughout the community.
“It gives neighborhood ball fields back to the local residents‚” Layton says. “Fathers and sons can go out and play catch.”
Consolidating league play in one location will also cut down on the wear and tear of neighborhood fields‚ he adds.
Future projects on the agenda for the sports complex include the addition of walking trails‚ picnic shelters and eight soccer fields‚ two of which will be lighted.
More than 30 tournaments involving eight nationally recognized leagues are scheduled in 2007.
“From March 10 through Nov. 11‚ there is some sort of tournament scheduled every single weekend‚” Layton says.
Tournaments boost not only athletic activity but business activity as well.
Parents‚ grandparents and other family members typically follow players to the community where tournaments take place.
“The sports complex will bring in whole families‚ filling up our hotels‚” says Martha Lamm‚ executive director of the Nash County Visitors Bureau. Lamm says the tourism bureau will assist the parks and recreation department in marketing the complex as a tournament site.
Story by Dan Markham
Photo by Ian Curcio
