Bastrop - Cedar Creek Edition | January 2025

Community calls for new recreation spaces Health & wellness

One option

Sorting out the details

Bastrop youth sports leagues hope to get dedicated, permanent facilities to replace aging and limited elds. According to an update from Hunden, Bas- trop’s sports teams are underserved, noting that aside from those owned by Bastrop ISD, there are no court facilities. Additionally, Bob Bryant and Fisherman’s parks have limited elds to support outdoor sports. Rosenauer said although they are grateful to lease the Bastrop ISD-owned soccer elds near Buc-ee’s, having a long-standing, dedi- cated space with amenities to accommodate their needs would be ideal. Bastrop Little League President Ruth Campion said a combination of regional and local sports facilities would be the best of both worlds. “Right now there’s nothing around this area that hosts tournaments,” Campion said. “A lot of people have to go to Round Rock, College Station and further, so having something regional here that local teams could also use would help youth sports and draw more revenue to the city.” According to Hunden, the closest indoor/ outdoor regional youth sports facility is at Mission Concepcion Sports Complex in San Antonio—about two hours from Bastrop. Bastrop County’s current facilities 3 indoor facilities 13 outdoor facilities 4.35% of visitors travel over 100 miles on average 537,700 total visits in 2023

In September, the Bastrop Economic Development Corporation commissioned a $60,000 feasibility study to explore the potential for a regional sports complex located near the junctures of state highways 71, 95 and 21. Hunden Partners, a real estate consulting rm, was selected to conduct the study, with the Windsor Group managing the project for the EDC. Carrillo-Trevino said many residents mistakenly think the complex will address the need for a larger recreation center and improved sports facilities. “This venue would not be either of those two things, and we need to clarify that,” she said. If the complex comes to fruition, Mayor Pro-

Tem John Kirkland said there could be limited opportunities for local leagues to use it when tournaments are not happening; however, that would need to be leased through the operator of the complex, which would not be the city. According to the most recent update from Hunden Partners, the purpose of the complex is to attract visitors to the area through sports tourism, which Carrillo-Trevino said would be a nancial benet for the area through hotel occupancy tax funds and sales tax revenue. “The return on investment and partnership has to be right,” Carrillo-Trevino said. “This cannot be borne on the backs of the taxpayers. It must make nancial sense.”

Regional sports complex • 8 multipurpose turf ields • 9 full-sized turf diamonds • Portable and flexible fencing • 8 hardwood basketball courts • 16 volleyball courts

Bastrop

JACKSON ST.

“By engaging with local employers and community members, we’ve identied a clear need for

recreational facilities that cater to families.” GREG SMITH, PRINCIPAL OF THE WINDSOR GROUP

SOURCE: HUNDEN PARTNERSCOMMUNITY IMPACT

COMMUNITYIMPACT.COM