New study hoping to bring sports complex to Spencer Co.

SANTA CLAUS, Ind. (WFIE) – It always seems to be Christmas in Santa Claus, Indiana, even at the Visitors Bureau Center.

Officials are working to put the county on the map for other reasons too during Santa’s off season.

“There are a lot of sports enthusiasts in Spencer County as well as traveling tournaments that come in,” said Visitors Bureau executive director, Melissa Arnold.

Although Spencer County has soccer fields, baseball fields and basketball courts already to fit that need, they don’t have a sports complex. Because of that, it’s caused a lot of teams in the community to have to travel elsewhere for tournaments.

“We’re hoping to offer a closer to home complex,” said Arnold.

That hope is closer to becoming a reality after the Visitors Bureau and Spencer County Community Foundation were given a grant to complete a feasibility study.

Part of the study asks county residents to fill out a survey.

“It asks about demographics and ages, it asks what people are interested in doing,” said Arnold. “All sorts of questions to put together the feedback of what people would like to see.”

Although people won’t see an actual complex built for a while, Arnold says the potential could benefit residents and bring in more visitors.

She’s glad the first step in the process has started.

“We’re just excited to see what the research shows that Spencer County and it’s tourism industry can support,” said Arnold.

You can find a link to the survey here.

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