In the increasingly drastic push to attract more tourism and "big city" ambiance to Northern California's biggest city north of Sacramento, the Redding City Council has recently approved plans to erect a multi-million dollar sports complex just east of the city's main business district. The Redding Big League Dreams Sports Complex will, by all accounts, be a fully functional sports Mecca; fully equipped with softball-sized replicas of some of baseballs most historic Major League parks, including Wrigley Field (Chicago), Fenway Park (Boston) and Yankee Stadium (New York). The proposed plans also include a non-replica softball field, a combination softball-hardball field, a nine-station batting cage, an indoor 20,000 square foot multi-sport field house--designed to accommodate inline hockey, indoor soccer, basketball, volleyball, and corporate events-- four sand volleyball courts, four all-weather soccer fields, and a sports restaurant. Big League Dreams, a southern-California company with several existing operations, will provide operational management of the Sports Complex. The unique partnership between Redding and Big League Dreams ensures professional maintenance for the facility while also generating an income stream for the City that will help pay the construction costs.

Some might venture to ask how the moderately sized California outpost was able to afford such a prestigious developmental project. Well, the Sports Complex is the result of efforts by two citizens committees and the Redding City Council. Funding for the project comes from $10,000,000 from two State grants, $3,000,000 in Redevelopment Funds, and $2,650,000 from the City's General Fund and surplus property sales. It doesn't take a mathematical wizard to determine that this is an extreme chunk of change. The question lies in Redding's citizens and their thoughts on this development, which will be located on the corner of Old Oregon Trail and Viking Way, just off of Highway 44.

Businesses that surround the Sports Complex construction site have only good things to say about the project. After all, more traffic equals more business. However, nearby residents have expressed some concern over the presence of lights, noise and numerous other distractions as reasons for concern. Nevertheless, the new complex has a scheduled completion estimation of Spring 2004, which means that in less than a year, North State sports enthusiasts of all varieties can indulge in any of the sites many prominent features.

I was born and raised in Redding. For as long as I can recall, the local sports scene has been rife with enthusiasm and fanfare. Local sports standouts are revered and championed in such a way that it's hard to remember that they are but the "sore thumbs" in an otherwise average group of citizens. Sure, Redding, Chico and our surrounding areas have had our share of famous athletes, but they had to hone their skills in what can only be described as less-than stellar facilities. What this Sports Complex provides us is with a state-of-the-art home to cheer our local athletes in. It's a place where we can take in local sports and feel as if it actually matters which local business' softball team emerges victorious. Most of all, it will express to the rest of the state who honestly puts the most effort into their communities extra-curricular functions.

The most intriguing aspect to this project may lie in the vindication of Redding's persistent struggle to attract professional sports to its cozy confines. In recent years, the Redding City Council has tried vigorously to bring Minor League baseball to our community, only to realize that without serious restoration projects to South Redding's Tiger Field, the home of American Legion baseball games, there could be no hope of ever seeing any pro, or even semi-pro athletes performing. Now, with the allure of a brand new park, Redding can expect a surge of tournament teams, whether it is softball or Little League, to occupy the lush, new fields.

In recent memory, it seems as if there has been no greater anticipation than has there been since the plans of this sports complex have been approved. Anyone with plans of traveling to Shasta County early next year ought to clear out a place in their schedule to take in what should be a grand and exhilarating experience; attending or visiting a game at the Redding Big League Sport Complex.