North Carolina Construction News staff writer
Fayetteville City council has unanimously approved a $13.6-million construction contract for the McArthur Road Sports Field Complex, after questioning whether selected contractor Group III had direct experience building sports complexes and ballfields.
Mayor Mitch Colvin was one of several councillors asking for clarification about the contractor’s experience building sports complexes.
“You don’t know who’s good or bad doing this because you hadn’t used them before,” Colvin said. “I’m not saying they’re not skilled at it, but you get better at doing things repeatedly.”
Dan Christiansen of Freese and Nichols, the construction management firm for the project, told council that while Group III did not list specific ballfield projects in its references, specialized work will be performed by subcontractors with required experience.
The company has hired Bill Ellis, a consultant with ballfield expertise, as an advisor for the project.
The multi-field complex will include 12 baseball diamonds and a multi-use building featuring restrooms, concessions, office space and an open-air pavilion. Plans also call for a maintenance building to support operations, along with a secondary concessions and restroom facility on the northern end of the parking area.
Construction is expected to begin soon at the site near Interstate 295 on McArthur Road. The project follows a 50-year lease agreement signed in 2022 between the city and Fort Bragg for approximately 70 acres of land.
The sports complex is funded through the city’s 2016 parks and recreation bond referendum, approved by voters to expand and improve recreational amenities and moves ahead as the city prepares to open a new tennis centre in May. The 6,594-sq. ft. facility will include 11 tennis courts — one designated as a championship court — as well as four pickleball courts, locker rooms, a lounge, a learning area and a pro shop.
A groundbreaking date for the McArthur Road Sports Field Complex is expected to be announced in the coming weeks.