YMCA begins final phase of youth baseball, softball complex | Sports

According to a release sent by the YMCA of Northwest Louisiana, construction of its tournament-grade youth baseball and softball Complex in underway.

The facility will boast eight fields with artificial turf that is expected to “maximize” local play and attract travel teams for regional and national competitions.

The project encountered a year-long delay to complete a wetland mitigation process. The project carries a budget of $9.8 million ($7 million for the “break ground” campaign.

The YMCA has raised $7.8 million to date. Numerous private and corporate donors have participated. The City of Shreveport donated $1.5 million, while the Caddo Parish Commission ponied up $2 million.

“Few things in our community are as important as creating a positive quality of life and healthy environment, particularly when it comes to our youth and providing them with greater opportunities to engage in physical fitness and team sports,” Willis-Knighton president and CEO Jaf Fielder said in a statement. “That’s why Willis-Knighton is proud to partner with the YMCA and Shreveport Little League to offer greater access to activities with this new state-of-the-art complex that will bring families together and increase participation in sports for children across northwest Louisiana. Sports go beyond promoting just physical development. They also teach the importance of teamwork and help to instill self-esteem. This is all in keeping with our mission to improve the health and well-being of the people we serve.”

The final phase of the project is expected to take about one year. 

“The Parish of Caddo is excited to be a part of the YMCA of Northwest Louisiana Baseball and Softball Complex,” Patrick Wesley, director, Caddo Parish Parks and Recreation said. “We envision this as a long-term partnership for the development of youth baseball in Caddo Parish.” 

The YMCA hopes to capitalize on the billion-dollar youth sports industry.

“This facility will not only allow kids to play baseball locally and support the growth of Shreveport Little League”, Gary Lash, CEO of the YMCA of Northwest Louisiana said, “it will also enable us finally to begin capitalizing on our incredible geographic advantage. We sit right between Little Rock, Dallas and Jackson. This facility will allow travel teams from north, west and east of us to meet in the middle for numerous competitions and tournaments throughout the year. The long-term economic impact of this project will be massive.”