Sportsplex dream comes to life

FLORENCE -- After six years and two administrations, city officials broke ground Thursday on what will become Florence's sports complex at the corner of Savannah Highway and Gunwaleford Road.

The project started in 2001, said Dick Jordan, who was mayor from 2000 to 2004. "I'm just happy that the present administration saw fit to go ahead," Jordan said. It's nice to see they followed through on our vision."

With a backhoe and two earthmovers as backdrops, several city officials spoke to a crowd of about 100 people in what was once-pastureland.

"By tomorrow and Monday, we'll see a lot of dirt being moved," said Mayor Bobby Irons. "That will be the beginning of a great project."

The first phase of the sports complex will cost $13 million, with $10.2 million being spent this year, according to city officials.

The first part of the project, earth moving, is projected to take about three to four months, depending the on weather, said Dave Marbury, president of Craig Construction, the project's general contractor.

Marbury estimated that the entire project would involve moving a million yards of dirt during the span of the nine-month project.

During construction, Phil Stevenson, purchasing director and project manager for the sports complex, said that the public would not be allowed on site because of safety concerns.

"Anybody just wandering out on the site will be asked to leave and could face penalties for being in a construction zone," he said.

Irons estimated that the next phase will take an additional $5 million to $6 million to complete.

"It will give us the opportunity to have a level playing field with everybody else in the state and the region," said Glenn Harscheid, Florence High School soccer coach. Harscheid, who didn't speak at the ceremony, said that having a sports complex brings an advantage for area soccer teams. "This will allow our kids to succeed, to really excel," he said.

City council members said they hoped the complex would also allow economic development to excel.

"Hopefully, we can get some of the tournaments over here," said Leland Howard, city council president.

Jim Spain, former recreation director said, "I think this will be worth a lot of money to the city of Florence and Muscle Shoals."

Angie Pickens, city council member for District 6, quoted from Henry Ford and Vince Lombardi as she held back tears. "Don't forget how this sportsplex ties in with economic development," she said.

"You're going to be proud of it," Irons told Nancy O'Neal, whose family owned the land for five generations. "I think your family would be proud."

Tina Kitchens, director of parks and recreation, summed up the feeling at Thursday's ceremony. "We're ready to play ball," she said.

Staff Writer Trevor Stokes can be reached at 740-5728 or trevor.stokes@timesdaily.com.