A “sneak peak” is scheduled tomorrow for local media members at the new, $30 million Highlands Athletic Complex, a facility that is scheduled to open on August 1.
According to Ohio County Commissioner Tim McCormick, one of the primary reasons the decision was made to move forward with the project was to increase the amount of commerce that takes place at The Highlands now.
“We felt at the time the decision was made to move forward with the athletic complex was to increase the amount of traffic at The Highlands so the other businesses up there would benefit,” McCormick revealed. “Even before this pandemic, brick-and-mortar retail was struggling all over the country, and it continues to do so with the online shopping that takes place these days, so it is the commission’s hope that this complex will attract even more patrons to the site.
“If there is a tournament during a weekend, there are hotels at The Highlands where those folks can stay, and there’s everything else that they are going to need during their stay in our area,” he said. “I believe all of our restaurants at The Highlands area going to benefit a good deal, too.”
Ginormous
It may not be the largest building located at The Highlands, but it appears most impressive from the exterior.
The HSC is a 200,000-square-foot facility that features six basketball/volleyball courts, an 88,000-square-foot vaulted-ceiling indoor turf field, an 89,640-square-foot outdoor turf field, a play climb, and an arcade. Other amenities include batting cages, pickleball courts, a second-floor mezzanine with views of the courts and turf, team rooms, and an on-site café.
A fitness center, outdoor adventure course, and splash pad are expected to open in 2021.
“On one side of the complex there is an indoor soccer field that can be used for a lot of different activities other than just soccer,” McCormick explained. “That area can be divided into four small fields, and at the far end of the soccer field there are four batting cages with the netting going up and down mechanically. That turf field can be used for flag football, lacrosse … whatever you can do on turf, you’ll be able to utilize that area.
“The other side has a large gymnasium area that also can be divided into small areas for volleyball games and basketball games,” the commissioner continued. “Everything inside this complex is state of the art and will be really nice for our local residents and others who come in from out of the area.”
Additional amenities that patrons will enjoy will include activity areas for children as well as an area to purchase concessions.
“We will have a café near the lobby of the complex, and we have not finalized who is going to operate it yet because there has been some discussion on rotating it,” McCormick said. “And there will be a fitness center in the future, there will be a game room for the kids, and there will be a splash pad, too, that will be completed by Summer 2021.
“The entire complex is air-conditioned and heated so it can be utilized all year long,” he said. “And the athletic complex will be open to people of all ages, and we are hoping that we can attract AAU tournaments on the weekends, too. Plus, there will be areas that can be rented out for birthday parties, too.”
Grand Opening
Local residents have been invited to the Highlands Athletic Complex on August 1 so they have the opportunity to experience the facility.
Outdoor activities will begin at 12 p.m. leading up to a 12:30 p.m. ceremony featuring OCDA and SFM staff, McCormick said. Indoor activities will follow at 1 p.m. including an “HSC Passport” that encourages guests to visit a variety of locations in the complex with a chance to win prizes provided by the facility and local businesses.
Harvey Greenidge has been hired as the general manager, and Jason Troop is set to serve as the director of Business Development. Ricky Moore was selected as the complex’s sports director, and Lucy DeFruscio will be the marketing coordinator.
“We’ve hired a great group to operate this complex, including a couple of local residents,” McCormick reported. “And we have emphasized to them to keep whatever costs there many be for local residents as low as possible. We’ve stressed to them to realize where they are and what the economy is like here.
“Now, if a group comes in from out of town, that price will be a little higher than what local residents will have to pay, and that practice is consistent across the country when it comes to operating a complex like we now have at The Highlands,” he added. “Trust me; we’re going to take care of the local folks as much as possible.”
