ELWOOD — Construction on a new sports complex in Elwood could start this year and run concurrent with the city’s negotiations for a hotel in the northern Madison County community.
Mayor Todd Jones said the Elwood Redevelopment Commission hired Card and Associates and Garmong Construction to build the new sports complex.
He explained the developers will build, operate and maintain the complex and eventually Elwood will take ownership.
“The cost is unknown as we work on the final plans,” Jones said. “The infrastructure plan is in place.”
He said officials are working on plans for the sports complex, ball diamonds and future expansion.
Last year, the Elwood City Council approved a resolution to solicit proposals for the building of a complex on 79 acres adjacent to the Elwood High School football stadium.
Jones said the public-private partnership will build a sports complex at costs of up to $10 million. The facility will include a 50,000-square-foot indoor facility for basketball and volleyball and four outdoor baseball and softball diamonds.
The Madison County Council approved $503,000 for the city to build a regional sports complex. Those funds were appropriated from the county’s wind farm economic development fund.
At the time, Jones reminded council members that a resolution was adopted by county officials in 2011 stipulating that the wind farm money was to be used in northern Madison County.
When the Wildcat Wind Farm was built in northern Madison County, the developer provided $1.3 million for economic development projects.
Jones said a feasibility study showed a sports complex could generate up to $9 million annually in tourism dollars. The study indicates the sports complex could create up to 108 jobs in the region.
Jones said there is an option to purchase two acres for the construction of a 54-room hotel with indoor swimming pool and small conference area at the intersection of Ind. 37 and Ind. 28.
He said Cobblestone was the best fit and the hope is construction will start this year.
“All these projects strengthen the future development of the city, not only by improving the quality of life for our residents, but also attracting people from outside of our community to spend their money at local businesses,” Jones said.
