The developer who created an athletics fieldhouse in Westfield wants to bring that same concept to Johnson County.
The idea for a sports complex in Bargersville isn’t new and was actually proposed nearly two years ago.
But now, a developer has rough plans for the project and has started contacting local governments seeking partners.
The development group that wants to take on the project, Klipsch-Card, also designed, built and runs Jonathan Byrd’s Fieldhouse at Grand Park in Westfield.
They envision a Bargersville facility that is larger than the Westfield fieldhouse and hope to build 10 to 12 indoor courts and six outdoor fields, along with a restaurant and space for medical staff, such as physical therapists, Mike Klipsch said.
The facility would be developed on 47 acres at State Road 135 and Two Cent Road and would be a regional attraction that could draw 15,000 to 20,000 people in a weekend, he said.
After developing the fieldhouse in Westfield, they have found that more space could be used, Andy Card said. That is why they want to build something bigger in Bargersville, he said. The Westfield fieldhouse is 108,000 square feet with eight courts, Card said.
But first the developers are seeking partnerships with local governments, they said.
The group has spoken with Center Grove, Greenwood and Franklin school officials. Their goal is to get local schools and communities to sign up to use blocks of time at the fieldhouse during the weekdays, when private sports groups would not be using it, Card said.
School officials have mixed interest so far.
Greenwood schools likely would not sign up to regularly use the facility, partially due to its location in comparison to the schools. But if a venue was needed for larger events, that could be considered, superintendent Kent DeKoninck said.
And Franklin schools already has the facilities it needs for its own teams, including a fieldhouse and outdoor fields, and likely wouldn’t need to use it either, superintendent David Clendening said.
Center Grove school officials heard a presentation about the facility last month but have not made any decisions about whether to use it. The school district, along with Greenwood, is also planning to build its own student activity center with an indoor track and courts by next year.
The development group is set to present its plan to the town of Bargersville later this month.
Developers said the complex would be a boon to the area and could attract other development, including restaurants nearby and potentially more hotels in the area in the future. Those developments and the taxes they would bring in would easily make up for the cost of their agreements with local schools and communities to rent time at the facility, Card said.
Greg Costelow, who is partnering with the developers on the project, said the group has been following up with potential partners and hopes to have some announcements and be able to give more details about the facility in the coming weeks.
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Here is a look at what the proposed facility would include:
Six outdoor baseball fields
Restaurant
Medical staff, such as physical therapists
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