New Athletic Complex in progress

Yuma is getting ready to welcome a new athletic complex with six lighted softball fields.

Mayor Douglas Nicholls spoke at the groundbreaking ceremony Monday morning, excited to see Project PAAC (Pacific Avenue Athletic Complex) in full swing.

“This athletic complex is a six-plex,diamond tournament style facility, that we have been planning on for several years, in order to accommodate the large tournament activity we have in Yuma”,said Nicholls.

Yuma City Council, is hoping this will improve the need of softball fields in the community,and create an economic impact. Nicholls explained the potential revenue this complex will bring to the city.

“This is will create an opportunity to host large tournaments here in town and capture some of those tourism dollars, it’s going to be tied in the commercial area and will be tied in to the path along the river and so it’s really going to connect to the rest of the city and not just be an element of itself.

However, the complex is not only going to be a facility for softball.The director of Yuma Parks and Receration, Debbie Wendt, is excited what other ideas she has for the complex

Wendt says, “Because of the size of the field,we will also be able to put youth baseball on here, up to Youth 15, Youth 14,and then we’re also going to be having like an event facility for festivals and so forth because it’s more than adequate,and so- it’s literally going to be something for everyone in our community.”

PAAC will be completed with a playground, a small pond, and plenty of parking. It is expected to be finished by Labor Day weekend, September 2017.