On March 27, the City of Saraland, Alabama, hosted a groundbreaking ceremony to officially break ground on The Land Sports & Recreation Complex. Community members, local officials and project partners attended the momentous occasion to celebrate the new state-of-the-art facility. Once completed, The Land will feature cutting-edge sports fields, hard courts, multipurpose event spaces, an indoor recreation center, a family entertainment center and numerous amenities for various sports and recreational activities. This development will not only enhance sports and recreational opportunities for residents but also attract premier youth and amateur sports tournaments and events to Saraland.
At the groundbreaking ceremony, attendees heard remarks from distinguished speakers, including City of Saraland Mayor Howard Rubenstein, City of Saraland City Council President Joe McDonald, City of Saraland Parks & Recreation Director Ashley-Nicole Flowers, and Mobile County Commissioner Merceria L. Ludgood. Representatives from project partners also shared remarks, including Jeremy Goldblatt, COO of KemperSports; Preston York, Project Manager at HPM; John Chambless, Principal of Chambless King Architects; Patrick Donohoe, Vice President of Field Operations at Rabren General Contractors; John White-Spunner, President & CEO of White-Spunner Construction; and Ryne Drummonds, Regional Vice President at Hellas Turf.
“We are incredibly excited to officially break ground on The Land,” said City of Saraland Mayor Howard Rubenstein. “Our goal is to provide Saraland with a first-rate facility that will greatly expand recreational opportunities for all residents. I’m proud to call Saraland home, and The Land will only elevate our community as a wonderful location to live, work, and play.”
The Land will become the region’s premier destination for sports tournaments and events and will have the largest indoor recreation center in Mobile County. This 78,000 square foot facility will offer four basketball courts; eight regulation-size collegiate volleyball courts; 12 pickleball courts; an indoor track; fitness center; family entertainment center; and adaptable event spaces complete with food and beverage amenities. The expansive outdoor venue will include five multipurpose fields for football, soccer, field hockey, and lacrosse; eight baseball and softball diamonds, including a 400-foot regulation-size field; three tennis courts; three beach volleyball courts; six pickleball courts; a disc golf course; an outdoor trail; and full-service concessions.
The outdoor fields and ball diamonds are anticipated to open in fall 2024, while the entire complex, including the indoor recreation center, is projected to open in spring 2025.
“Congratulations to our wonderful partners at the City of Saraland for being the visionaries behind this exciting community enhancement project,” said KemperSports COO Jeremy Goldblatt. “We were thrilled to be a part of the groundbreaking celebration and can’t wait to see the incredible impact The Land will have on the whole community.”