Shreveport’s $9.8M youth baseball, softball complex

SHREVEPORT, La. (KTAL/KMSS) — The YMCA of Northwest Louisiana says they are in its final phase of building its $9.8 million youth baseball and softball complex.

YMCA of Northwest Louisiana stated the facility will boast eight fields with artificial turf that is expected to “maximize” local play and attract travel teams for regional and national competitions.

The project encountered a year-long delay in completing the wetland mitigation process, according to the Caddo Parish Parks and Recreation.

“Few things in our community are as important as creating a positive quality of life and healthy environment, particularly when it comes to our youth and providing them with greater opportunities to engage in physical fitness and team sports,” Willis-Knighton president and CEO Jaf Fielder said, “Sports go beyond promoting just physical development. They also teach the importance of teamwork and help to instill self-esteem. This is all in keeping with our mission to improve the health and well-being of the people we serve.”

The final phase of the project is expected to take about one year.

“The Parish of Caddo is excited to be a part of the YMCA of Northwest Louisiana Baseball and Softball Complex,” Patrick Wesley, Director of Caddo Parish Parks and Recreation, said. “We envision this as a long-term partnership for the development of youth baseball in Caddo Parish.”

“This facility will not only allow kids to play baseball locally and support the growth of Shreveport Little League”, Gary Lash, CEO of the YMCA of Northwest Louisiana, said, “it will also enable us finally to begin capitalizing on our incredible geographic advantage. We sit right between Little Rock, Dallas, and Jackson. This facility will allow travel teams from [the] north, west, and east of us to meet in the middle for numerous competitions and tournaments throughout the year. The long-term economic impact of this project will be massive.”