City officials broke ground Wednesday, March 4, on a major enhancement project at the Minden Recreation Complex, marking the start of upgrades designed to expand amenities, improve playing surfaces, and boost sports tourism.
Originally built in 2001, the complex has not undergone major improvements since its construction. The project began as a plan to improve three baseball fields but grew into a comprehensive effort to upgrade nearly every area of the facility, according to Mayor Nick Cox.
“Today is more than a groundbreaking. It represents vision, growth, and a long-term investment in the future of our city,” Cox said during the ceremony.
Planned upgrades include converting all baseball and softball infields to turf, installing turf on the football and soccer fields, and retrofitting lighting across the complex with LED fixtures. Basketball and tennis courts will also be upgraded.
Additional improvements include construction of a new playground with turf surfacing, a pavilion approximately 10 feet tall with multiple picnic tables, and two new batting cages — one near the first quad at the entrance and another near the existing batting cage.
Work on the project has already begun, with crews removing the first quad. Zack Harrison, the city’s recreation enhancement coordinator and interim chief of staff, said construction will move from quad to quad to prevent disruptions to games and tournaments.
“We’re going to go from quad to quad, so no disruption will happen to games or tournaments,” Harrison said previously. “Once the first one’s done, it can go into use and we’ll move on to the next one.”
Cox said the improvements are intended to strengthen Minden’s role in the growing sports tourism industry.
“We realized that sports today are more than games,” Cox said. “They bring weekend travel, hotel stays, restaurant visits, and retail purchases. They are economic engines for communities that position themselves correctly.”
The city has also purchased an additional 78 acres adjoining the recreation complex for potential future expansion.
“That kind of expansion positions this complex not just for today but for decades,” Cox said. “In 20 years, there’s no telling what this complex can become. That’s intentional. We are not building for a season. We are building for a generation.”
Officials said revenue generated from tournaments and other sporting events will be reinvested into the facility to support ongoing improvements, allowing the complex to sustain and expand itself over time.
Cox thanked the Minden City Council, all of whom attended the ceremony, along with the recreation department, Harrison, project contractors GeoSurfaces, project engineer Jesse Simpson of Simpson Sports Engineering, and residents of Minden.
Councilman Andy Pendergrass also praised recreation staff and Doug King, who leads the grounds crew, for their work maintaining the facility.
“We’ve got the best grounds crew that I’ve ever seen,” Pendergrass said. “They work extremely hard, and they have elevated their work every year.”
Cox said the project is designed to benefit families and young athletes for years to come.
“This project is about our kids having a first-class place to grow up playing ball,” he said. “It’s about practices after school, summer tournaments, and championship moments.”
“Today, we are not just putting a shovel in the ground, we are laying a foundation for the future of our city,” Cox said. “This is just the beginning.”
