$1.3M sports complex to bring more soccer, ultimate Frisbee, lacrosse to Pasco
A $1.3 million parks project will bring a new sports complex and 10 athletic fields to an East Pasco neighborhood.
The A Street Sports Complex will be near the intersection of South Elm Avenue and East “A” Street.
Pasco administrative and community services director Zach Ratkai said at this week’s city council study session that the project was not their “typical put down some sod and a couple of goals.”
The project’s first phase includes an extension of Elm Street, an extension of water, electrical and sewer services, drinking fountains, a portable restroom shelter, paved parking and three full sized, rectangular multi-sport fields.
Those should be complete in about 10 months — just in time for next summer.
At total build-out in 2025, the park will play host to 10 fields mostly for soccer, lacrosse, rugby or ultimate Frisbee use. The city also is planning to later install lights and turf on one of the larger fields.
The finished project will bring high-quality fields to one of the region’s most under-served areas.
“This is a long-awaited project, and we’re excited to kick off this first phase — no pun intended — as we further our commitment to provide parks and facilities to the community,” Ratkai said.
The sports complex project will be paid for mostly with the city’s parks development fund ($990,500), but the project will also use a RCO Youth Athletic Facilities state grant funds ($324,000) that the city was awarded in 2019. The city plans to continue seeking grant funding for the project, Ratkai said.
Council member Joseph Campos said he always sees kids jumping the fence at Edgar Brown Stadium to play soccer, and that there’s always a high demand for outdoor recreation spaces.
“I’m excited to see this project in this area in particular,” said Mayor Blanche Barajas.
“I know a lot of the kids and families from this particular area sometimes don’t have transportation to go to Road 36, to the soccer fields out there. So bringing the fields to them is a great accomplishment.”
