RICHLAND COUNTY, Ohio — Richland County and the city of Mansfield are known for their juvenile detention center and the role they played in the production of the movie “The Shawshank Redemption.”
The Mansfield Correctional Facility alone sees between 100,000 and 120,000 visitors a year, and officials hope the county will become known as a national soccer tournament destination.
The YMCA of North Central Ohio has several
The public-private partnership is turning 35 acres of old potato farmland into a new $22 million indoor and outdoor sports complex. Pickleball, basketball and many other sports will be played there, but they’re focusing on football tournaments.
“We have some of our county residents saying they have to go to Gary, Indiana, they have to go to this place, there’s nowhere around here to do that so they’re traveling a long way,” Richland County Commissioner Cliff Mears said.
The new sports complex will be built near I-71 and Route 97 on the outskirts of Mansfield.
“This is designed to allow teams from within and outside the state to have tournaments here, and that’s not happening right now,” Mears said.
Mears estimates the complex and tournament could bring an additional eight million visitors to the county.
“In addition to the tournaments that will be held here, we’re going to have kids coming here regularly to practice,” said Lee Taseff, president of Destination Mansfield, “so the activity that this facility will bring will be nonstop, pretty much year-round.”
So far, the YMCA of North Central Ohio has raised $9 million for the $22 million campaign.
“This is more than just about the community, it’s really about our state and the surrounding areas,” said Kristen Gilbert, CEO of the YMCA of North Central Ohio.
Officials told News 5 that as more tournaments are held in the coming days, hotels will start popping up in the area, which could impact hotels and Airbnbs in places as far away as Cleveland.
Richland County Executive Andrew Keller told News 5 that while the county won’t be able to directly fund the project, it will be investing $1 million from American Rescue Plan Act funds to help with sewer upgrades and address increased usage that will come with the new complex.
Gilbert said local businesses will also be affected as more customers are expected to visit restaurants and stores.
“Not only will this bring money into our economy and into our county, but it will also help people save a little bit on travel, hotels, lodging and gas. It really does. It’s an exciting idea.”
So, from the selfish side, we have space so local residents don’t have to travel far for their kids’ tournaments.
If all goes according to plan, the sports complex is expected to open by June next year.
