The City of Kearney, Nebraska officially broke ground on its highly anticipated indoor sports complex. The groundbreaking ceremony, which took place on Tuesday, August 1, 2023, was attended by local dignitaries, including the mayor and city council members, members of the city's parks & recreation department and local supporters of the project, as well as members of the RDG Planning & Design team.
“The Kearney SportsPlex will facilitate access to recreational and sports programming, and also serve as an economic asset for tourism growth for Kearney and Buffalo County,” said Kearney SportsPlex Manager, Lauren Brandt. The City of Kearney’s mission is to provide services, solutions, and opportunities for our community; this project exemplifies this mission fully. The SportsPlex will no doubt enhance the quality of life for Kearney residents and will create opportunities for generations to come.”
The indoor sports complex represents the most significant undertaking in Kearney's 150-year history. Spanning 209,000 SF, the complex includes a range of amenities designed to cater to the diverse needs of athletes and sports enthusiasts. Among its standout features are 62,000 SF of wood-floor gymnasium space for multiple basketball courts and volleyball courts and the ability to accommodate numerous wrestling mats and pickleball courts for tournaments. Additionally, the facility offers 65,000 SF of indoor turf, allowing for various soccer pitch arrangements, drop-down batting cages and a baseball/softball practice infield. Four dedicated pickleball courts and a suspended running track complete the comprehensive offerings.
"With its expansive size and versatile layout, the SportsPlex is poised to become a hub for youth sports tournaments and practices, not only for the local community but also for the surrounding multi-state area," said RDG Architect and Partner Brad Rodenburg, AIA, LEED AP BD+C, WELL AP. "We take great pride in our longstanding partnership with the City of Kearney and we're grateful to be a part of designing this facility, which will surely have a lasting and positive impact on the community."
RDG’s project partners include ETI, MCL Construction, Miller and Associates and TD2. The sports complex is estimated to be completed in late 2024 or early 2025.