The land was donated to the city last year by S & S Land & Farms LLC and has diamonds for baseball/softball. Under the plan, Beyond The Game would refurbish those facilities and add soccer fields, said owner Jeff Kennard.
“We’re looking at revamping the baseball and softball fields, using those for youth through high school kids — baseball and softball tournaments,” said Kennard, owner of the Centerville organization. “We are looking to put soccer fields outside the (diamonds) for additional….tournaments for bringing youth teams in for somewhere to play.”
Beyond The Game offers sports training geared toward youths, Kennard said. That includes lessons, classes and clinics catering to various age groups at its 24,000 square foot facility at 2646 East Lytle Five Points Road, according to its website.
Kennard said he hopes to have the Moraine facilities ready for use by April.
The city has been looking for a recreational use for the land since it received it, said Moraine City Manager David Hicks. Hicks said he discussed the issue with a few parties before focusing on Beyond The Game.
“If this group is successful, they will be offering youth baseball — and I suppose some other sports, which is good for everyone,” he said.
“It’s good for the community, good for the region, to have yet another outlet for kids to play an organized sport with some supervision, training and guidance,” Hicks added. “So that’s great. And the city has really no direct costs.”
Moraine City Council Thursday night approved legislation allowing Hicks to enter into an agreement on the land. The deal calls for Beyond The Game to rent the land for $1 annually for the first three years, documents show.
After three years Kennard said the company would have an option to buy the land for an undisclosed price. If not, the rental costs would increase to $3,000 a month in the fourth and fifth years, documents show.
Beyond The Game would be responsible for paying taxes on the land during the agreement, as well as maintenance and repairs, records show. The cost of designing, upgrading, improving and constructing is expected to be less than $250,000, the lease states.
“I know the baseball fields haven’t been used for a long time,” Kennard said.
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