Phase I of the Newcastle Sports Complex Grant is officially underway. A site map of the project was recently released by the City of Newcastle, showing the project.
In 2020, the City was given ownership of the original ballpark property. In September 2020, City staff submitted the Land and Water Conservation Fund (LWCF) Phase I Newcastle Sports Complex grant application.
The grant included funding for parking improvements, ADA-accessible routes to the ballfields, a new lagoon, and new restroom facilities. However, the COVID-19 pandemic significantly delayed the approval process for several years, and hiked up the cost to do the planned project.
When grant approvals resumed in 2022, the project was required to undergo an archaeological survey. After the survey was completed, City staff advanced the project through the federal approval process.
Following conditional approval, project engineers conducted a cost analysis and determined that construction costs had increased substantially since the project was originally designed. The updated cost estimates exceeded the available grant funding, requiring staff to revise the project scope and seek approval from the appropriate state and federal agencies.
As a result, the grant scope was reduced to include improvements to the entrance and parking lot, along with the construction of a new exit. The revised scope received approval from the National Park Service, and engineering design was completed at the end of 2025. To avoid disrupting league play and spring tournaments, the City elected to postpone construction until after the spring season concluded.
Construction officially began on June 8 and is scheduled for completion in September.
In 2022, the City was approached regarding the purchase of property immediately west of the ballpark complex. This opportunity to acquire additional land significantly expanded the longterm possibilities for the facility. The City of Newcastle subsequently hired Guernsey to develop a long-term vision for the complex and prepare the Newcastle Sports Complex Master Plan, which was adopted in 2023.
Developing a comprehensive master plan positions the City to identify grant opportunities and other funding sources needed to complete future phases of the project.
Because the LWCF Phase I grant was undergoing a scope revision at the time, Guernsey was able to incorporate the revised Phase I improvements into the overall Newcastle Sports Complex Master Plan.
The City is excited about the future of the Newcastle Sports Complex and remains committed to pursuing funding opportunities to bring the full vision of the Master Plan to life.
