City leaders, military partners, and residents gathered Thursday on a stretch of undeveloped land off McArthur Road to break ground on a long‑promised sports complex that officials say will expand recreation access and strengthen Fayetteville’s growing sports tourism economy.
The ceremony marks one of the final major projects tied to the 2016 Parks and Recreation bond, which voters approved nearly a decade ago. The complex will sit on roughly 70 acres between I‑295 and Lake Mont Court, land the city is leasing from Fort Bragg under what officials described as a first‑of‑its‑kind partnership.
“Today is not just a ceremony—it’s a promise kept,” City Manager Doug Hewett told attendees. “A promise we made to the residents of Fayetteville when they went to the polls in 2016 and said, yes, we want to invest in our parks, our recreation, and our future.”
Turning Voter‑Backed Plans Into Reality
Once completed, the McArthur Road Sports Complex will include 12 baseball and softball fields, a multi‑use building with restrooms, concessions and office space, an open‑air pavilion, a maintenance facility, and a playground and splash pad.
Mayor Mitch Colvin framed the complex as the latest step in a years‑long effort to expand Fayetteville’s parks and recreation system.
“The voters said that a city that invests in itself—a city that values quality of life, a city that shows up and stands up and invests in its families and its neighborhoods—and today, we are delivering on those promises,” Colvin said.
“From senior centers to splash pads, from trail expansions to park renovations, the Jordan Soccer Complex, the Dorothy Gilmore Recreation Center, the Rowan Street Skate Park and so much more, we’re continuing to build a stronger, more connected city today,” he said.
Colvin added that the city will soon celebrate the ribbon cutting at The Courts at Glenville Lake.
Councilmember Stephon Ferguson, whose District 1 includes the McArthur Road complex, said the complex represents the kind of community‑building investment that shapes daily life for families across the city.
“When I think about what makes a city great, it’s not just the roads we build or the budgets we balance,” Ferguson said. “It’s places where our children grow, where families gather, where athletes compete, and where our community comes alive.”
Ferguson also credited former Councilmember Kathy Jensen for her early work on the project.
The city awarded a $13.6 million construction contract to Group III Management earlier this month. The total project budget is $20.6 million, including $3.6 million from the 2016 bond.
Economic Hopes and a Federal Partnership
City officials repeatedly emphasized the complex’s potential to draw regional and national tournaments—and the visitors who come with them.
“With a dozen high‑quality fields and a full suite of amenities, we are positioning Fayetteville to attract regional and national tournaments,” Ferguson said. “When families come here for weekend tournaments, they will eat at our restaurants, stay at our hotels and experience everything Fayetteville has to offer.”
Colvin said the project reflects years of coordination with Fort Bragg, which agreed to lease the land to the city for 30 years.
“That didn’t happen overnight,” Colvin said. “It took commitment, persistence, strong relationships, and coordination. We are a community that works together, shoulder to shoulder, to benefit the collective community.”
Colvin also pointed to the broader economic impact of sports tourism nationally, citing figures showing more than $274 billion in economic activity across the country in 2025.
“Every tournament held here pays economic dividends in our community,” he said. “Sports tourism is a powerful engine, and Fayetteville is stepping up in a big way.”
Groundbreaking After Heightened Scrutiny
Thursday’s celebration follows a period of heightened council scrutiny. In March, the council delayed a vote on the construction contract, citing concerns about avoiding the kinds of construction failures that have plagued other city projects. Councilmembers ultimately approved the contract on April 8 after nearly an hour of questioning.
The project’s cost has grown over time. The 2016 bond included about $7 million for a multi‑field facility. When the federal government later agreed to lease the city 72 acres of military land, council shifted $3.5 million of that allocation to the McArthur Road site. As the scope expanded and inflation took hold, the estimated budget climbed to roughly $18 million before the most recent update.
City leaders on Thursday said the groundbreaking represents a turning point.
“The sports complex represents one of the final major milestones of our Parks Recreation bond,” Hewett said. “It reflects who we are as a city, a community that believes in investing in the health well being and opportunity for every resident.”
Ceremony and Next Steps
A representative of U.S. Rep. David Rouzer’s office presented the city with a certificate recognizing the groundbreaking. The Republican’s 7th Congressional District seat includes parts of Fayetteville.
After speeches, Colvin, councilmembers and other dignitaries donned hard hats, lifted ceremonial shovels and tossed dirt into the air as attendees applauded.
Construction is expected to begin immediately and be completed by spring 2027. City officials said they look forward to celebrating the next milestone—the ribbon cutting—once the complex is complete.
Government reporter Rachel Heimann Mercader can be reached at rheimann@cityviewnc.com or 910-988-8045.
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