The Hillsboro Sports Complex is a 90 acre facility including many new baseball fields, tennis courts, a disc golf course and so much more coming to Helena. It is estimated to cost $58 million.
City leaders have a devised plan for funding the project alongside the new city hall that will not increase taxes or decrease city services.
Helena Mayor Brian Puckett said, “We are financially not biting off anything we can’t chew later down the road.”
Many residents have been concerned about the total cost of both projects. The City Hall is budgeted for an additional $18 million.
City council president Alice Lobell, said, “A lot of them are concerned their taxes may go up. That is not in the plan.”
The new complex is needed in Helena – a city that is full of young athletes to the point of outgrowing it’s current fields.
Mayor Puckett says some nights on one baseball field there will be a tee ball team and three soccer teams practicing at the same time.
Another reason for the city to invest in this project is to bring tournaments to Helena – potentially bringing more money into the city.
Helena resident Ed Langham likes the idea and said, “It’ll bring more teams in which means more money for Helena. It’ll bring more families in… to Helena.”
Tournaments can be a source of pride for athletes according to Lobell who said, “That is definitely first and foremost in our minds when we built this that we could host some different tournaments and bring people into our city which in turn does bring revenue.”
The sports complex is expected to break ground in November and city leaders are hoping the first phase including the baseball fields tennis courts and splash pad will be open within twelve months of that time.
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