Prospect Meadows sports complex receives million-dollar grant

A $1 million grant was awarded Wednesday by the Enhance Iowa board to Prospect Meadows - a future 16-field baseball and soccer complex outside Marion.

The grant was among the Community Attraction and Tourism grants totaling more than $2 million approved Wednesday, according to a media release.

The Enhance Iowa program assists construction of recreational, cultural, educational or entertainment facilities to enhance the quality of life in Iowa.

The $1 million was out of the $1.5 million grant request submitted to the Enhance Iowa board. The project would cost a more than $13 million to complete.

The complex would be located at County Home Road and Highway 13, north of Marion.

Included in the 16-field complex would be a Miracle Field for people with disabilities, walking trail, supervised play area, recreation lake, a two-acre flower garden, concession stands, restrooms and a storm shelter.

Since fundraising began in February 2014, Prospect Meadows has raised $3 million in private donations and more than $5 million in public commitments, and secured a $1.3 million grant from the Iowa Department of Transportation.

The project also received support from Linn County, Cedar Rapids and Marion, which committed a combined $4 million. Local government officials have said the complex would bring visitors from across the Midwest, providing an economic boost.

The Linn County Board of Supervisors leased it 120 acres northeast of Marion for $1 a year.

Jack Roeder, president of Prospect Meadows, has said that Perfect Game USA agreed in a 15-year memorandum of understanding to bring 1,000 teams to the facility every year - equating to about 60,000 out-of-the-area visitors annually, he said.

Perfect Game USA, based in Cedar Rapids, is an organization that holds tournaments throughout the country to help develop young baseball players.

Reporter James Q. Lynch contributed to this story.

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