TUSCALOOSA, Ala (WIAT) – The City of Northport will soon be a destination for travel sport teams at the Northport Shore development.
It’s 300-acres of development overlooking the Black Warrior River. The first to open will be River Run Park, which Northport plans to open for local teams on Aug. 16. There will be nine baseball and softball fields. Two of which will be collegiate regulation, offer covered grandstands and other amenities one would expect to see at a ball park.
“I think it will boost Tuscaloosa County in general,” Northport Mayor John Hinton said.
The city expects this park to generate $68 million annually through the 530,000 visitors who they anticipate will come to the city for Northport Shore development. The River Run Park is in Package Four. WAR Construction was hired by the city to oversee this package, which are the final touches.
“We’re the finish package. We come in we do all the buildings, all the concrete sidewalks, and landscaping for the project,” WAR Construction Project Manager Robert Jamison said.
On Thursday, WAR construction crews were welding steel, pouring cement for the grandstands and sidewalks – among jobs. Weather permitting – Jamison expects his crews to finish on Aug. 15th, a day before the city anticipates their grand opening. However, Jamison understands why hitting that deadline is critical.
“I haver four kids, some of which play baseball and softball,” Jamison said. “I’m really excited about them being able to play here in the future and telling them hey daddy was a part of this park.”
Not only will his kids play on the fields of River Run Park, he knows that it’s a park other families and kids will enjoy in the future.
“I have a lot of interest in making sure this project looks really well at completion and we finish on a timely manner,” Jamison said.
This sports complex also has a lot of meaning for Northport’s mayor.
“As a part of my campaign and my platform, I included a sports complex because so many other cities have this,” Hinton said.
Because Northport lacked fields that could accommodate travel teams, Northport families were spending more time on the road than at home.
“It’s really a big thing because people here are having to drive so far to play,” Hinton said.
Hinton believes this project might be the largest development the City of Northport has undertaken. There are plans for a hotel on the riverfront, indoor basketball and volleyball courts, pickleball and other sport attractions. There are also tentative plans to build a convention center Hinton said.
“I think it will bring in other business, certainly, downtown will flourish when this is open and in effect,” Hinton said.