Serving the High Plains
Serving the High Plains
A preliminary artist's rendering shows a proposed Phase 1 of a recreational and softball complex near Ute Lake State Park in Logan. The village received a nearly $5 million state grant for the project.
LOGAN - The state last week awarded the Village of Logan a nearly $5 million grant to build a recreational and softball complex near Ute Lake State Park.
Ray Mondragon, governmental specialist of the Clovis-based Eastern Plains Council of Governments, made the official announcement during the village board's regular meeting on Jan. 10, though the village and EPCOG issued a news release about the grant the day before.
EPCOG worked with the village using information from WH Pacific engineering firm of Albuquerque to apply for the state's Regional Recreation Centers Quality of Life grant.
The total amount of the grant that will be given from the state's Department of Finance and Administration is $4,908,411.
About a dozen people at the meeting applauded when Mondragon made his announcement.
According to documents from Mondragon about the project, Phase 1 will include:
- Two artificial-turf softball or Little League fields with fencing, dugouts, batting cages and a storage building;
- A new access road;
- A 70- to 80-car parking lot that will include ADA-compliant spaces and spots for food trucks;
- A BMX cycling track;
- Shade structures and a pavilion with grills, benches and tables;
- Xeriscape landscaping and irrigation;
- Utility development including a new well, well house and sanitary sewer lift station;
- Playground.
The project would be off the Highway 540 Loop, just east of the current baseball and softball fields near the Ute Lake State Park entrance.
Mondragon said when the village receives the money, it will consult with architectural and engineering firms to complete the planning and design.
He showed a preliminary artist's rendering of the project. A drawing of a future Phase 2 of the project shows walking trails.
Mondragon said construction could begin on the project as soon as spring. He said he and village officials would not know how long construction would take until after they meet with architects and contractors.
Mondragon said tournaments hosted at the complex will generate additional sales-tax revenue for the village. He said Clovis earns an additional $5 million in revenue from its softball tournaments.
Sandy Chancey, executive director of EPCOG, said the state recreation grant was "a unique opportunity" because it required no matching funds form the village.
Mondragon said the fact the village owned the land for the project also helped it land the grant.