County staff and commissioners back $3.3M plan to complete eight‑field Regional Sports Park, plan to use ARPA and CIP funds

Clay County commissioners on Jan. 10 signaled support for completing an eight-field Regional Sports Park and instructed staff to prepare budget amendments that would reallocate remaining ARPA reserves and CIP funds to cover project costs.

Assistant County Manager Troy Nagel told the board the delta between five and eight fields is roughly $1.6 million: $1.7 million to reach five fields and about $3.3 million to build all eight. Staff reviewed options to fund the full eight-field build by reallocating about $3.1 million of remaining ARPA reserves and taking $200,000 from a CIP land-acquisition line item.

Engineering and parks staff described alternatives to immediate roadway turn-lane construction and event operations during early phases. Richard Smith of county engineering said a single main entrance with a right-turn lane would be prioritized; staff suggested using event-based traffic control (temporary PSA officers and signage) for early tournaments while pursuing longer-term turn-lane or signal improvements with FDOT and TPO grant opportunities.

Parks staff said the eight-field configuration makes the facility competitive for larger tournaments and regional sports tourism; staff described weekday public access (recreation and practices) and weekend tournament use as the operating model. Tourism and sports marketing representatives said contiguous fields in one complex materially increase the county’s ability to attract multi-field events.

The board reached consensus to move forward with full funding and asked staff to return with formal ARPA and CIP budget amendment documents at the next meeting, to pursue available grants and TPO support for turn-lane needs, and to draft an operations plan balancing public access and paid tournament schedules.