Waimea Sports Complex to feature sports for all ages

WAIMEA — While still very early in the planning stages, the Waimea Sports Complex hopes to bring sporting teams and fans from around the island and beyond to Kaua‘i’s Westside.

Making the case that the WSC would create jobs and lead to economic development in the area, Diane Zachary, president and CEO of the Kaua‘i Planning and Action Alliance, approached the Kaua‘i County Council to create a grant to hire a consultant to make a plan for the facility using input from a steering committee and other community members.

In looking at the General Plan for Kaua‘i in the Vision for Kaua‘i 2020 initiative, planners determined that the project fits at least four community values, including:

• Protection, management and enjoyment of our open spaces, unique natural beauty, rural lifestyle, outdoor recreation and parks;

• Recognition that our environment is our economy, our natural capital, the basis of our economic survival and success;

• Government that supports and encourages business;

• Support for youth, educating them to succeed.

In looking at ideal conditions, by 2020, Kaua‘i would like to have more business health and diversity by “including outdoor recreation, with environmental tourism and sports facilities,” said Zachary.

The Kaua‘i General Plan also calls for a preservation of Kaua‘i’s rural character, while enhancing towns and communities and still providing for growth.

On the Westside, “because there is a sunny climate with no rain unlike the rest of the island,” there is a call to expand the county park, said Glenn Kimura of Kimura International.

According to the Kaua‘i General Plan, the parks program is designed for supporting “thriving youth and adult sports leagues, as well as providing a diverse range of recreational and social opportunities for people of various ages and interests. The parks program also recognizes the need to support the visitor industry.”

The Vision for 2020 includes emphasizing the development of large regional recreational parks rather than several smaller parks.

“That’s basically what we are doing here,” Kimura said, along with touting the 45-minute drive from the airport for sports teams.

Kimura noted that he designed parking spaces to be close to each of the fields to allow WSC the ability to park close or to use one of the fields as overflow parking.

Several community members later questioned if that was enough parking given that parking lots at other sports facilities on the island are often to capacity during events.

From an economic development standpoint, Kimura said the Westside has access to the Waimea Plantation Cottages along with the hotels in Po‘ipu.

There are also several other places to visit, shop or eat in the nearby area, including Waimea Canyon and Koke‘e Park.

In assessing potential financial gains for the area, Kimura said visitor spending profiles for Kaua‘i sports participants average $30 daily.

For sports players, coaches and their families from other high schools in the state, they spend, on average, $60 daily.

For non-high school inter-island teams and their families, the average figure increases to $125 per day while for overseas teams and families, they often spend $160 per day.

These estimated figures include the cost of renting hotel rooms, buying souvenirs and dining out.

Kimura added that often visitors will also stay after a tournaments for vacations, creating direct visitor spending through induced and indirect spending.

Kimura said the WSC would also be good for the area from a socio-economic standpoint as Waimea is a sporting community.

He said the facility would prevent the use of drugs and alcohol by providing opportunities for sportsmanship, physical health and well-being.

He added that he put special emphasis on planning the softball fields “because the Waimea girls softball team won the high school state championship.”

In projecting the costs of the complex, Kimura said the overall cost is estimated to be $45.26 million.

Developers are currently working on securing funding sources for the project.

To lessen the financial impact, the project is being developed in several phases, starting with the baseball complex at $4.81 million.

Up next would be the development of the multi-purpose field, softball complex and basketball court at an estimated cost of $1.17 million.

Next would be a track and football field at an estimated cost of $6.7 million, followed by the development of a soccer complex for an estimated $3.38 million.

Throughout the process, $8.25 million is planned for structures; $2.92 million is projected for bike and pedestrian paths and $9.64 million would go for developing roads at the facility.

An additional $6.40 million is planned for parking, $2.01 million is projected for engineering the project and $580,000 is planned for landscaping.

Kimura said current plans are to hopefully launch construction by 2014. To launch construction on the baseball fields, developers are looking to raise at least $16.17 million.

As infrastructure costs are added, the remaining phases will be less expensive.

The total projected cost of adding the softball fields is $4.89 million. The total anticipated costs of adding the multi-purpose field, softball complex and basketball court with infrastructure is $5.29 million.

Adding the track and football field is estimated to cost $9.80 million, while concluding construction with the soccer complex is projected to be $9.11 million.

Project planners are looking at several avenues to raise funds including federal grants ranging from Title IX funds to Economic Development Administration and Federal-Aid Highway Program funding to cover the cost of the bike and pedestrian paths.

Also under consideration at this point are possible state appropriations and county capital improvement funds and grants.

Kimura also appealed to the community to give private donations and do fundraising to help expedite the process.

If all goes according to plan, Kimura said they hope to “begin construction in 2015.”