Coolidge to Spend $3.5 Million on Sports Complex

The Arizona Republic reports: "Poised for explosive growth that is expected to bring thousands of new residents, Coolidge officials are moving forward with plans to build a $3.5 million sports complex on 20 acres on the eastern side of the city…Still only at the edge of massive growth, participation in the city's youth sports programs have surged this year, Zimmerman said. Currently there is one lighted field available, and Little League and its 183 kids and other sports teams scramble for practice-field space."We need it bad," said Richard Garcia, president of Coolidge Little League. The complex will prevent existing field space from wearing out and youth games won't have to be scheduled for an entire Saturday in the heat of summer, Garcia said.The field space crunch will worsen as at least 15 housing developments containing 24,522 homes at buildout loom in Coolidge's future. The biggest development is Sandia, where 10,863 homes are planned. Nearly 1,000 building permits were issued in 2005 and 617 homes were built." 5/11/2006