St. Joseph Charter Township officials decided to “play ball” on Monday, approving a special use permit for the St. Joseph Youth Sports Foundation to build a $5 million outdoor youth sports complex in the 40-acre field at 3630 Hollywood Road, across from the YMCA.
The nonprofit foundation, headed by resident and parent Nicole Schmitt, is proposing the complex feature football fields, baseball fields, softball fields, a playground, a splash pad, batting cages and more.
Schmitt said when her kids started to come of age for playing organized sports, she found that a lot of teams had trouble finding fields for practice and games. So, she started researching and found this the plot of land at the corner of Hollywood Road and Maiden Lane.
After the board approved the permit, supervisor Roger Seely applauded Schmitt.
“Congratulations,” said Township Commissioner Roger Seely, after the board approved the permit. “I know you have put a lot of hard work into this. … Good job.”
The project still has a long way to go, however, as the foundation still needs to secure about $4 million in funding and many other details need to be ironed out, including the acquisition of the land from its current owner, Hanson Properties.
Hanson Properties spokesperson Jim Reits told The Herald-Palladium in July that the company is excited about the project, and the property would be donated if it moves forward.
At Monday’s meeting, township manager Denise Cook also advised that the next step will be developing and approving a site plan.
“It probably bears saying, too, that this is only the beginning,” Cook said. “The planning commission will have to [get into] some great detail with that.”
To see a map of the the St. Joseph Youth Sports Foundation’s proposed plan, visit their Facebook page.
