Field of Dreams Recreation Complex
Your Local Option Tax Dollars at Work
The City of Ponderay is pleased to announce that construction of the Field of Dreams Recreation Facility is underway with an anticipated completion date for Phase 1, of June 2024.
This 50-acre facility that has been 30-years in the making (see history below) will be constructed as a phased project with continued support of the Ponderay Local Option Tax.
Multi-Phase Recreation Complex
Phase 1-Anticipated Completion Date of June 2024
Phase 1 includes four, fully lit artificial turf sports fields, a portion of the future restroom and concessions building and associated access and parking infrastructure. These fields are designed to accommodate multiple sports at all development levels from small youth fields to full sized high school/adult fields.
Turf will be Academy (GreenFields) Allsport Ultra (Similar to the Real Life Ministry Fields)
Field lighting will be provided by Musco Lighting Systems
Restroom and Concessions facility (To be partially constructed as a part of Phase 1).
Project History (based on historical records and newspaper articles found):
1993 – Floyd McGhee and Mike Read, on behalf of the Sandpoint Soccer Association, had a vision for a regional sports complex in Ponderay called the McGhee Sports Complex. Working together the soccer association purchase the 50-acre parcel from Mr. McGhee.
1994 – North Idaho/Ponderay Youth Sports Association, Inc which was a combined effort by the Sandpoint Soccer Association, Sandpoint Strikers and the Sandpoint Baseball Association, was established as a 501c3. The property was transferred to the 501c3, with the goal of raising funding to bringing their vision to reality.
1995 – The non-irrigated farm fields that were prepared for play. While efforts to get this complex up and running were spearheaded by the North Idaho/Ponderay Youth Sports Association, it would not have been possible without the support of the community. At that time the sports fields were plowed and tilled for use. Local families organized and supplied equipment farm equipment and labor to prepare and plant the fields. Jacklin Seed helped out with the seed for planting.
June 1995 – The Field of Dreams operated for the first time as the Sandpoint Soccer association hosted the “Soccer Bowl” on site, which included approximately 236 soccer games played by nearly 1,000 youth athletes. Again volunteers stepped to prepare the fields for play and assisted with the event. This included everything from mowing the fields, operating concession stands and directing traffic. So amazing how this community has always come together make dreams a reality!
The Field of Dreams operated for some time in the late 1990’s but lacked irrigation, making it difficult to retain grass on the sports fields. The locals lovingly referred to it as the “Dust Bowl”.
2009 – Mike Read worked with Parson’s (the company tasked with building the Byway) place fill and precision grade the Field of Dreams site. During this process preliminary discussions were had with Ponderay regarding ownership of the Field of Dreams.
2011 -The City of Ponderay, under the leadership of former Mayor Carol Kunzeman, purchased the Field of Dreams with the assistance of Panhandle Area Council. The property was purchased with the intent of carrying out the community dream of a regional sports facility.
2018 – Ponderay received a LOR grant in the amount of $500,000 for development at the Field of Dreams.
2019 – The residents of Ponderay supported the City in its efforts and passed the 1% local option tax for the purpose of funding two projects. The Field of Dreams sports complex Phase 1 and the Front Yard Project.
2020 – 2023 – A committee was assembled to establish the community needs for the facility. The City then worked with Bernardo Wills Architecture to create a multi-phase development concept.
2023 – LaRiviere, Inc. on behalf of the City of Ponderay, breaks ground for Phase 1 of the Field of Dreams. Official ground breaking ceremony August 4, 2023.