Kirkwood Sports Complex, pictured above, is one of 17 organizations who submitted applications in this second round of allocations for Delaware’s sports tourism fund.
Seventeen organizations throughout the First State are asking for a combined $47,138,560 for construction, upgrades, and additions to their sports complexes to generate more income and attract more athletes and patrons.
The requests range from as little as $319,680 from the Sandhill Fields in Georgetown to as much as $10 million from Dover’s First State Aquatic Center.
It’s sure to be a competitive process, as the first round of allocations were announced in June that included $11.3 million distributed to four locations after considering 18 applicants asking for $54 million.
New Castle County has six locations asking for $12.78 million; Kent County has two locations asking for $10.44 million; and Sussex County has nine locations asking for $23.94 million.
Many requests pertain to lighting, audio/visual equipment, artificial turf, parking lots, seating, and courts.
This is the second round of allocations of the Delaware Sports Tourism Capital Investment Fund, created in 2023 as part of the Fiscal Year 2024 Bond Bill to provide grants in support of sports facilities like arenas, courts, fields, aquatics facilities, track and field, and more.
Winterthur – Point to Point Steeplechase Tracks withdrew their application this round, which was a request for just under $200,000.
What the sports complexes are asking for
Through a Freedom of Information Act document request, Delaware LIVE News was able to collect what each applicant will use the money for:
First State Aquatic Center (Dover): $10 million for site preparation and facility construction. The application lists the total project cost as $20M-$44M to build the center.
Sports At The Beach (Georgetown): $8.4 million for facility enhancements and upgrades like artificial turf, parking lot improvements, batting cages improvements, air conditioning, and a beer garden.
Midway Pickleball (Milton): $5.5 million for 10 additional courts, a commercial kitchen, an observation deck, bleachers, locker rooms, and space for athletic trainers.
Kirkwood Sports Complex (Wilmington): $4 million for parking expansion, insurance, artificial turf, and lighting installations.
Bethany Club Tennis (Ocean View): $3.3 million for construction of indoor courts, restrooms, and lobby.
Dover Civic Arena (Newark): $3 million for facility and parking construction, mechanical equipment, seating, and rink and scoreboard installation.
Sussex Academy of Arts and Science (Georgetown): $2.5 million for an eight-lane track and turf fields, lighting, bleachers, and advanced video streaming and recording equipment.
University of Delaware – Rullo Stadium (Newark): $2 million for artificial turf, audio/visual infrastructure, field lighting upgrades, and a video board.
Goldey-Beacom College (Wilmington): $2 million for the installation of a multi-sport synthetic turf field which will accommodate more than 1,000 spectators, complete with a press box and stadium lighting for evening events.
Dave Marshall Tennis and Pickleball (Lewes): $2 million for construction of new clubhouse and sports courts, and equipment and amenity purchases after a fire in Aug. 2023 caused significant damages.
NBN Sports Academy (Hockessin): $1,357,700 for bathroom renovations and expansion, elevator installation to enhance accessibility, and new parking lot construction.
Hudson Fields (Milton): $1,123,000 for turf installation, grass enhancement, and irrigation setups.
Factory Sports (Frankford): $458,640 for facility expansion to support larger, more frequent tournaments.
Dover Motor Speedway (Dover): $436,993 for construction and installation of updated paving, elevators, HVAC systems, modernized infield media center, and enhanced audio system.
Abessinio Stadium (Wilmington): $400,000 for track and field resurfacing and parking lot pavement at Salesianum School..
River Soccer Club (Frankford): $342,547 for improvements to the existing parking lot and constructing a new parking area, adding 490 spaces.
Sandhill Fields (Georgetown): $319,680 for LED lighting on two playing fields to generate more tournament income.
Some of the applications included letters of support from school districts, neighborhood associations, legislators, and other stakeholders.
For example, Kimberly Price, principal of Warner Elementary School in the Red Clay Consolidated School District, wrote a letter of support for Salesianum’s Abessinio Stadium project.
“Salesianum’s commitment extends beyond its own student body, creating a positive impact on the entire community,” she stated. “This project will not only serve the school and our students but also attract events and patrons, benefiting the city of Wilmington.”
Philip Socorso, president of the Triangle Neighborhood Association, also submitted a letter to support the Abessinio Stadium project.
Sen. Eric Buckson, R-Dover, joined Sen. Dave Lawson, R- Marydel, in writing a letter of support for Dover Civic Arena’s project.
“This initiative promises to bring about significant economic growth and community development not only to Dover but also to the surrounding areas of Delaware,” he stated. “I am confident that with your support, this project will not only come to fruition but will also serve as a beacon of progress and development for Dover and its surrounding areas.”
The grantees are expected to be announced by the end of 2024, according to Jessica Welch, director of the Delaware Tourism Office.
Raised in Doylestown, Pennsylvania, Jarek earned a B.A. in journalism and a B.A. in political science from Temple University in 2021. After running CNN’s Michael Smerconish’s YouTube channel, Jarek became a reporter for the Bucks County Herald before joining Delaware LIVE News.
