The Louisville Slugger Complex is officially underway with a public groundbreaking. A variety of those with athletic, business and community interests gathered at the Orange Prairie Road site for the event Thursday.
Mark Peterson is the developer of the $33 million investment. It includes 10-youth baseball fields, a 125,000 square foot dome and an adjacent Holiday Inn.
Kyle Schlegel is with Louisville Slugger. He says the purpose behind the sports complex fits with the company’s mission to make players great. “You know the kids that are going to be playing on these fields but it’s their parents that are going to come with them, it’s the fans from the local community that are going to come out, it’s the businesses that you see right here. It’s all of you that showed up as well. In our definition, all of you are players as it relates to the Louisville Slugger business and we look forward to doing whatever we can to help the Peoria Community and help make it a great experience for everybody that comes here.”
Schlegel says the park will see a quarter-million youth baseball players, family members and fans annually.
The Louisville Slugger Complex is expected to be open for business by Memorial Day.
Fifth District Peoria City Councilman Casey Johnson says the project is also generating additional broad-ranging retail interest.