KANSAS CITY, Mo. — A new $13.5 million soccer complex is one step closer to being built in Swope Park. On Wednesday the Jackson County Parks and Recreation Department will finalize an agreement that would allow construction to start this year.
The current soccer complex in Swope Park is made up of just three fields, but it will soon be the site of a new ‘Soccer Village.’ It will be home to five new synthetic turf multiuse fields, a championship natural grass field and the expansion of two existing natural grass professional training fields.
Originally, the county planned to use tiff money earmarked for the Raytown School District to pay for the project. But the two later came to an agreement and after the school district gets its share, the city and county will use its portion along with future tiff money to build it.
The county says the addition of turf fields will allow for the expansion of youth soccer programs. It says it will also be able to host other sports like rugby, football and lacrosse. And it says the new venue will also allow the county to one day host big-ticket events like the Women’s Big 12 Soccer Tournament.
The project also includes plans for more parking, a training facility expansion as well as renovated restrooms, shelters and new concession stands.
Wednesday’s agenda calls for the Director of Parks and Recreation Department to authorize a cooperative agreement with Soccer Village Properties for the construction, maintenance and operation of the Soccer Village in Swope Park.
