Veterans Park and Athletic Complex Build-Out Phase 1

1. CITY OF COLLEGE STATION
PARKS AND RECREATION
Veteran’s Park and Athletic Complex
Build-Out
Phase I
October 22, 2015

2.  Collateral benefit to local groups:
 Will help address field use/availability issues for the local groups
 Full use of the facilities during scheduled League times
 Ability to handle additional local league growth and use demands
 Smaller impact on field use due to weather
 True year-round facility
 4 synthetic fields to host local, league and tournament use, even
during the wet/cold season
 Flexibility to host larger tournaments that we are not currently large
enough to handle that are outside of scheduled League play
 High Return on Investment (ROI) and economic impact to the community.
Feasibility Study – Summer/Fall 2014

3.  Comments from Public and Soccer Community:
 Overwhelmingly positive for the Master Plan and the Phased
approach to building facility.
 Liked the fields being artificial turf to allow more year round use
 Full use of the facilities during scheduled League times
 Ability to handle additional local league growth and use demands
 Smaller impact on field use due to weather
 Wanted us to look at additional amenities such as restrooms; address
drainage issues; address current issues with concrete sidewalks
around existing artificial turf fields
Public Input Meeting – September 3, 2015

4. VETERAN’S PARK BUILD-OUT
PHASE 1:
 2 additional full-size athletic fields – all synthetic turf
 160 parking spaces
 Lighting, shade, playgrounds and splash pad
 Field access walkways and bleachers
 Fencing
 Hydrochill – Evaporative cooling system
 Estimated cost: $3,673,274 (Hotel Occupancy Tax Funds)

6. VETERAN’S PARK BUILD-OUT
 Events
 Prior to 2014 = 30/yr. average
 Economic Impact (estimate) = $3,000,000
 2014 (with new fields and focus on Athletic Tourism) = 59
 Economic Impact (estimate) = $16,600,000
 2015 = 57 Economic Impact (estimate) = $23,000,000
 Build-Out expected to increase activity/larger events

7. CITY OF COLLEGE STATION PARKS AND RECREATION
VETERAN’S PARK AND ATHLETIC COMPLEX BUILD-OUT
HOTEL OCCUPANCY TAX FUNDS
The intent for funding of this project is to utilize Hotel Occupancy Tax funds. The use of the HOT funds,
Chapter 351 of the Tax Code, require that the project meet a two part test.
First Part of Test: Every expenditure must directly enhance and promote tourism and the convention
and hotel industry.
Second Part of Test: Every expenditure of the hotel occupancy tax must clearly fit into one of ten
statutorily provided categories for expenditure of local hotel occupancy tax revenues. We meet this
under section #7.
*NOTE: The amount of “area hotel revenue” that is generated by activity from sports events at the
facility must equal or exceed the amount spent to upgrade the facility within five years or the hotel
occupancy tax fund will need to be reimbursed the difference.

8. VETERAN’S PARK BUILD-OUT
 Time Frame: 2 years (approximate)
 Fall 2015: Contract for specification and construction
documents
 Winter/Spring 2016: Specification and construction
documents written
 Summer/Fall 2016: Construction begins
 Summer/Fall 2017: Ready for play

9. DISCUSSION / DIRECTION
Staff is seeking input from City Council to move
forward with securing a firm to fully design and
engineer the Veteran’s Park Build-Out, Phase 1.

11. Overall Build-out Plan | Questions ?