The City of Brownwood is starting to lay the groundwork, both literally and financially, with the next expansion near the Bert V. Massey Sports Complex by looking to add new soccer fields to the area.

The Brownwood City Council is will vote Tuesday on a resolution authorizing the city to apply for an Outdoor Recreation Grant as part of a local park program offered by the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department.  The maximum amount of the grant, if awarded, is $100,000 and would help fund the proposed soccer complex project.  Deadline for application for the grant is August 1st.

The plan is to construct new soccer fields where the old baseball fields are located next to Gordon Wood Stadium on Milam Drive in Brownwood since new baseball and softball fields were opened in the Massey Complex.

Brownwood City Manager Bobby Rountree said that the project is in the early planning stages at this point but they hope to have something underway for next year.

“An architect will be selected and the old facilities demolished by the end of the year (weather permitting),” Rountree said.  “Construction should begin by next spring.  I do not anticipate it being ready for play until the end of the summer.  Again one of the unknowns is the availability of water for the grass and a soccer complex has a lot of grass.”

Some work has already been started on the proposed site of the soccer fields according to Parks and Recreation Director David Withers.

“City crews are in process of removing chain link at the old (baseball) sports complex,” Withers said.

The city’s recent issuance of certificates of obligation will be a major funding source for the proposed complex with $2.2 million marked for the project from those funds.  The city council will still need to hire an architect and put the project out for bids before an actual construction price can be determined.

If all goes according to plan, local soccer organizations and out of town soccer tournaments would be able to use the new fields.