SIERRA VISTA, Ariz — When the old Apache Middle School in Sierra Vista closed down in 2012, it was also the final out for the adjacent sports fields, which no longer received proper upkeep.
"Our teams traveled to other state tournaments across the state, saw the facilities that were out there, and when we came back to Sierra Vista, thought we could do a lot better," said Ponytail Softball Director Charles Galarneau.
First came an intergovernmental agreement between the city of Sierra Vista and its school district. This past January, the Legacy Foundation of Southeast Arizona awarded the city a $49,000 grant to improve the facilities.
"I was thrilled," said Laura Wilson, the Leisure and Library Services Director. "Funding the resources in order to make improvements like this to sports and recreational facilities is very hard to come by."
Thursday, there was a ribbon cutting ceremony for the grand opening of the CIty of Sierra Vista Sports Complex.
"Now, we're going to have better facilities," said Michael Russell, with the Sierra Vista Youth Football Association. "That will bring more people here which helps our growth, which helps our economy and the town for our kids to grow up in."
"It's going to be amazing," added Galarneau. "A complete 180 degree turnaournd from what we have here."
