Buttahatchee River Sportsplex nears completion

By Kathryn “Chazz” Hirschfeld
Staff writer

HAMILTON — If you do any kind of searching on the internet for how sports complexes help boost local economies, you will find hundreds of positive reviews, most of which contain statistics related to huge “economic boosts,” while only a very few contain negative remarks.
With the City of Hamilton’s $9.5 million Buttahatchee River Sportsplex now nearing completion, we asked the mayor, council members and others to comment on the facility, as well as gathered some nearly final numbers spent since the initial consultation and groundbreaking three years ago.
Hamilton Mayor Bob Page noted, “The initial thoughts about creating the sportsplex was to make a track available for all of our county schools to use for their meets.
“But in addition, Hamilton saw an opportunity for economic boost. So we are expecting to have up to 10 events per year, either cross country or track, or a combination thereof.
“And we think we’re going to bring lots and lots of people to our town because of that. And this influx  should be a real improvement on our economy. When we bring these huge crowds in, they’ll be buying gasoline and eating and spending money here in our community, as well as learning more about our community. I think it was a good thing that we did.”
Hamilton Park and Recreation Director Tim Kerr said the facility has already been put to good use.
“We played a lot of soccer in the spring, and we’ve had four track meets so far,” he said. “We will have more events as the concession stand and the bathrooms open. They should be completed near the end of this month, and we can go full force.
“We plan on playing youth soccer and youth flag football there, and we’ll also be bringing in some travel soccer and AAU (Amateur Athletic Union) track in addition to park and rec track. The sportsplex will be used for a lot of different events.”
Kerr also noted any schools in Marion County who wish to use the track can do so by booking it through him at the Hamilton Rec Department at 205-921-4371.
Hamilton High School Track Coach Scotty Sanderson, whose teams have won championships across the board in indoor track, outdoor track and cross country, spoke highly of the facility’s benefit to the athletes themselves.
“The track has been very beneficial to our throwers and jumpers as they now have a place to train,” he noted. “As far as the runners, it's been a benefit to them with fewer injuries such as shin splints.”

From the
city council
Councilor Sherry Armstrong noted, “The Buttahatchee River Sportsplex was being developed when I was appointed two years ago,” she said. “Our youth will enjoy this complex as they strive to reach their goals. Events planned will bring people to our beautiful city to shop, visit restaurants and businesses. We should see economic growth in our city for many years as our youth benefit from this complex.”
Councilor Wade Williams noted, “I understand that the track complex sparked strong opinions--that's a sign people care deeply about our community. As a councilman, I supported the project because I believed then, as I do now, that investing in our infrastructure and recreational opportunities strengthens our city for the long term. This facility brings new energy, economic activity and a place for our youth and athletes to thrive. Leadership sometimes means making tough decisions not just for today, but for the next generation.”
Councilor Scott Robertson said, “I’m thrilled to see the Buttahatchee River Sportsplex approaching completion—a project made possible through the unified efforts of our administration and a carefully planned, phased approach. This strategy allowed us to maximize resources, complete the facility without incurring debt and create a strong foundation for future administrations to expand upon. This is truly an investment that will serve and be enjoyed by generations to come.
“From just the first few track and field and soccer events held, we’ve already witnessed the facility’s potential to positively impact Hamilton’s economy. One local restaurant owner reported a significant increase in sales during event weekends, while another business owner shared that they sold three manufactured homes to visitors who attended a track and field event. It’s clear from the volume of traffic coming into our city that this project is working exactly as intended—bringing people to Hamilton and boosting local businesses.
“The Buttahatchee River Sportsplex is a true multi-purpose facility. With both track and field and soccer events already underway, we’re seeing expanded opportunities for local athletes and families. The addition of a dedicated soccer space also reduces the need to close baseball fields during soccer season, extending their availability for play.
“I’m proud to see more opportunities being created for our youth to stay active and engaged. The sportsplex is opening new doors for kids to participate, grow and thrive in Hamilton—and this is only the beginning.”
Councilor W. Ross Reed noted, “The Buttahatchee River Sportsplex is a fantastic project that has been a privilege to be a part of. When we first came into office, we made it a priority to invest in the students at our schools and our community. This is exactly what the sportsplex is to me, an investment in our students and community. With the recent accomplishments by our cross country, track and field teams, they deserve a place to call their home, and I am happy to have been a part of building their home.
“As for the impact of what we expect this to bring to Hamilton, I do expect the sportsplex to boost the economy of Hamilton. Anytime there are sporting events or city events in Hamilton, we see that benefit. This is going to do the same. Not only by bringing in different high schools and their teams and fans, but also in our recreation department. Having a full track and field complex will allow the city to host competitive track and field events for our youth, and that means more people in Hamilton and a boost in our economy when those events are going on. Not only for track and field, but also for soccer.
“Finally, there are some potential things this facility will allow for in the future. The track was designed and built with a tolerance in line with the NCAA tolerances. This could allow for future partnerships.”
Councilor Scott Tyra concluded our official interviews, noting, “With the partnership between the City of Hamilton and the Marion County Board of Education, we have brought a state of the art track/soccer/football field/multipurpose facility to the City of Hamilton in the Buttahatchee River Sportsplex.
“We are tremendously proud of this facility. This was a vision we saw realized, but a vision which, as we now continue to examine it, will continue to expand.
“The uses of the Buttahatchee River Sportsplex are very evident at first sight, but as we continue to see what can be accomplished, this multiple-use facility will, we fully believe, continue to impress. Track meets for our county schools will be held at this facility, as this partnership is set forth in the initial stages.”
 
Groundbreaking held in 2022
Regarding the history of the sportsplex, the hiring of expert consultant Steve Dudley and the groundbreaking were done in June 2022.
In May of 2023, the city awarded Avery Landscaping & Associates, LLC, $6,066,146 for the majority of the project.
In June of 2024, the city approved a bid of $2,120,00 for the construction of the concessions and restroom facility to Dominguez Design-Building Inc.
Various other purchases were also made in the last three years, bringing the total to $9,561,525. The Marion County Board of Education contributed $1 million. Besides $24,000 in funds from the American Rescue Plan Funds, all the other monies have come from the city’s general fund.
As noted previously by one of the city council members, the city did not have to incur any debt in the construction of the sportsplex.
“It’s a beautiful complex that’s paid for, and there has been no debt created by the building of it,” the mayor added.