Summersville to take its shot at sports tourism with new 128-acre complex – WV MetroNews

SUMMERSVILLE, W.Va. — Work will begin this fall on the first phase of the 128-acre Summerville Recreational Complex.

Ground was broken on the project Friday during a large community celebration behind the Big Lots store.

“We’re going to build a state-of-the-art complex, it’s going to include many things, but we’re doing it primarily for the youth,” Summersville Mayor Robert Shafer said. “The bonus to it is, it’s going to be another attraction to help us with what our core economics and that’s tourism.”

The first two phases, the construction of which will take place simultaneously, will include 10 miles of hiking and biking trails plus a soccer complex.

“The soccer kids in this community are long overdue for the facility that they are going to get,” Shafer said. “It’s incredible to me with the facilities that they have made due the tournaments they bring to the area with 60 to 70 teams, I can’t imagine what they’ll able to do with this new park and the facilities we’re going to put in.”

Additional phases at the complex will include the construction of a baseball/softball facility, courts for basketball and pickleball, an all-inclusive playground and a dog park.

Shafer said for now the city is financing the construction with up to $12 million in bonds that will be paid back over time. He said they’ve gone after federal and state money but have been unsuccessful. He said that hasn’t deterred them.

“We’ve not been real lucky on getting state and federal monies to support us so we’re going to bite the bullet and do it ourselves, at least initially,” he said. “We’ll always continue to look for additional monies.”

Shafer said the city is in a “fortunate place” financially that will allow it to finance the project through the bonds.

Shafer expects the project to really get rolling next year with completion sometime in mid to late 2026.