Sports commission hosts dedication of $13.5M complex expansion

Sports

May 12

Written By Staff

Redfield Family Donor Plaza with new sculpture | Photo courtesy of West Michigan Sports Commission

Community leaders and local sports legends gathered at the Meijer Sports Complex in Plainfield Township on May 11 to formally dedicate the $13.5 million expansion project. The event was punctuated by first pitches thrown by Aquinas President Sister Maureen Geary, O.P., and Alro Steel CEO and Chairman Randy Glick.

Just 18 months from the first shovels of dirt thrown to start the project, the West Michigan Sports Commission (WMSC) commemorated the improvement and expansion project at an invitation-only ribbon-cutting event at the complex. The improved and expanded complex can now accommodate 200 more teams annually and generate an additional $1 million in annual spending.

“Today is possible thanks to our generous donors who have been with us along the way,” said Mike Guswiler, President, WMSC. “Public organizations, private corporations, government agencies, and individuals came together, united in a singular cause of creating more spaces for youth and amateur athletes to recreate in West Michigan and infuse dollars into the economy through sports tourism.”

The complex was expanded on more than 12 acres to the south to make space for the following new assets:

Alro Steel Championship Softball Field for youth, amateur and collegiate softball games and tournaments, featuring synthetic turf, grandstands, lighting, covered dugouts and a press box
Two flexible-use diamond fields for youth and amateur baseball and softball plus collegiate softball, with covered dugouts and bleachers
20 pickleball courts, including a championship court
New concession building, new restroom facility, and expanded storage facility
New playground area
300 additional parking spaces

The project also included improving existing elements of the complex, such as installing synthetic turf at the DeVos Family Championship Baseball Field, resurfacing the Nate Hurwitz Miracle Field, and adding bleacher shade structures for spectator comfort.

“Progressive is proud to be a part of this important project that enhances our region’s sports infrastructure offerings and makes us more competitive regionally and nationally at hosting youth and amateur baseball and softball tournaments, and now pickleball.” said Jim Horman, Chair of the WMSC and a principal at Progressive Companies. “And the significance of Alro Steel Championship Softball Field cannot be overstated – it adds important gender parity by offering a championship softball field for women and girls in addition to our championship baseball field. We’re thrilled that Aquinas Women’s Softball made this its home field, and we look forward to seeing them and other women’s teams play here.”

In addition to serving as the home field for Aquinas Men’s Baseball and Women’s Softball, the Meijer Sports Complex will host 20 travel baseball/softball tournaments weekends through September 2026, including 10 by USSSA and seven by Game Day USA, plus the 2026 North American Fastpitch Association Masters World Series - East Sept. 10-13. It will also be home to Rockford Pickleball Club, which will manage the 20 new public courts and the Professional Pickleball Association (PPA) Challenger Series Pickleball Tournament Sept. 18-20.

The project and its major components were constructed by general contractor Owen-Ames-Kimball in Grand Rapids.

As part of the recently launched Winning Streak Legacy Program, supporters can purchase an engraved brick, bench, or picnic table to help sustain the Meijer Sports Complex into the future. Information is at meijersportscomplex.com/brick-fundraiser.

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