LAWTON – The Lawton Youth Sports Trust Authority is moving forward with plans for building the city’s youth sports complex, which could cost approximately $41 million.
After hearing a presentation from Eastern Sports Management project manager Brian Cann, the authority voted unanimously July 7 to approve the design development for the PlayLawton SportsPlex and move into the construction drawing phase.
That phase will include translating the design for the sports complex into a detailed road map for contractors to follow.
The complex will be located on a 120-acre site off East Gore Boulevard, east of MacArthur High School. The architectural firm ADG Blatt is designing the entire site, which will include outdoor baseball fields as well as the building.
The indoor facility will include eight basketball courts, which could be converted into 16 volleyball courts. Other amenities will include a lounge-style seating area, a kitchen, multipurpose rooms and space for exercise classes.
Trustee Carey Monroe asked whether the lounge could include items that would make it more appealing to families with young children, such as a small section with soft carpeting and blocks or other toys.
“Thinking about the demographics that I see at the games with my kids now, there’s tons of toddlers,” she said. “So something that’s a little more friendly for littles, because our sports parents are very heavy elementary (school).”
Cann said the design for the building’s common spaces does not currently include features that would appeal to toddlers and their families.
“In the fitness center, we’ve got the child care area, but obviously that’s part of the membership,” he said. “But from a tournament perspective, maybe that’s something we can look and see what our options are.” Cost estimate Building and equipping the complex could cost about $41.75 million, but that number may change since some of the design elements haven’t been finalized yet, Cann said. He said the design team has already identified some ways to hold down costs.
“This is also before we’ve even started value engineering,” Cann said. Value engineering is a process to reduce cost without affecting the facility’s purpose and design, he explained.
He said the design team is trying to bring the price tag for the complex down to about $38 million.