This project has been a goal of Brown’s since taking office seven years ago.
“This is one of the best days this town has ever seen and been a part of,” Brown said.
According to Councilman Steve Zeuli, the project is being funded through private investors, bonds and Burlington County parks grants, which have yet to be announced.
“This will be a zero-impact project on taxpayers because the money is coming from open space funds,” Brown said. “We didn’t take any money out of the operating budget, just open space.”
Phase one of the project on the 13-acre parcel of land has begun for the two softball and two baseball fields, with the opening pitch slated for early April.
Phase two will include soil for approximately six feet of elevation, project manager Al Buciorelli said. The fields, lighting and walkways will follow soon after.
According to Brown, the fields will be similar to those at St. Joseph’s University in Philadelphia.
The complex will be used for baseball players ages 5 through 13 and 5 through 18 for softball. Additionally, adult softball programs will have the ability to play at the complex. Visitors will also be able to use the walking path for leisure and exercise.
According to Buciorelli, his team is “basically building a beach” to help solve drainage issues often experienced at the neighboring Memorial Fields.
Raising the fields will help solve the flooding issue, with water being transported out of the complex through a drainage system, according to Brown.
“This isn’t just a sports facility, this is a community center,” Brown said. “We coach, we umpire, we work the snack stand and the grandparents come. Everybody comes.”
Brown is hopeful the complex will entice residents and their children to stay or come back to settle in Evesham, make people want to retire in the town and draw visitors from all over to experience the sports facilities.
“When my son first started playing baseball, there were no complexes like this,” said Dylan Johnson, president of the Marlton Rec Council. “I went to a meeting and was told we were never going to get fields. A couple years later, we got a new council and new members of the MRC who said ‘we can do this.’”
Tony Valenzano, owner of Valenzano Winery, will be opening an ice cream stand across the street from the complex, slated for opening the same day as the first pitch, he said.
Brown is hopeful the fields will continue to draw businesses to Tuckerton Road, near the athletic fields.
“If you have a hoagie shop, people are going to eat here, same with pizza and ice cream,” Brown said. “Who’s going to have the vision to move forward to open a coffee shop, a fast food restaurant or a hoagie shop? Once you build it, people will come to it.”
The township will generate revenue from the complex, through renting the fields at an hourly rate. According to Zeuli, it’s $100 per hour to rent the Memorial turf field. The opportunity for significant revenue has presented itself with these fields.
“The way that revenue is so tight these days, we want to be able to bring revenue generators in and bring in aspects where we bring the community together,” Brown said. “Revenues will come from advertisers, user fees and tournaments.”
Despite the ability to draw additional, festival-like events to the complex, Brown’s goal is to maintain recreation and athletics surrounding Memorial and the new complex. He is hopeful the festivals can continue to help build up Main Street.
“I’m just proud the town was able to rally and get the project going,” Brown said. “This is one more step in the right direction.”
