Construction crews fanned out across Keller Sports Park in late December as the city moved forward with a $40.8 million renovation. The work is transforming the complex into a local sports destination designed to elevate family life for Keller residents.
Funded primarily through certificates of obligation backed by Keller Development Corp. sales tax revenue, the project will unveil 12 renovated baseball and softball fields and expand facilities for lacrosse, equestrian and soccer competitions set to debut this spring. As of Jan. 20, all but five fields have been finished and can be utilized.
The overhaul also includes a $15 million, privately funded City Sports complex adjacent to the park. The complex is part of a public-private partnership with the city designed to attract tournaments, athletes and visiting families.
The gist
The plans for renovating Keller Sports Park started in 2021 when a task force was formed to discuss transforming the three baseball fields that were constructed in the 1970s. The task force recommended significant renovations and updates in March 2022.
Fields for soccer, football, lacrosse and rugby followed, but Director of Community Services Cody Maberry said the current renovations are the first major work on the park since 2004.
Mayor Armin Mizani said the updates were needed. He said the park was once a “destination” that had been passed over by surrounding communities’ complexes.
“In my first strategic planning session as mayor [in 2021], we set a vision to be Texas’ most family-friendly city and set the renovation of the Keller Sports Park as a priority that would benefit area families for generations to come,” Mizani said.
Park changes include converting baseball fields to turf infields, updating the multipurpose field into two baseball fields, adding a Miracle League Field for players of all abilities and adding a splash pad.
The details
Keller Sports Parks is nearly 200 acres, 140 of which feature developed land, according to the city website. The number of developed acres of land will increase by 7.8 acres with the addition of new fields and the City Sports indoor/outdoor complex. It will have indoor basketball and volleyball courts and six outdoor futsal courts.
The facility is meant to complement the programs offered at Keller Sports Park, according to previous reporting.
ME Development LLC is behind the development, partnering with brothers Esteban and Manuel Mariel, who operate City Futsal in The Colony and Dallas. City Sports will lease the land from the city of Keller, while the private partners will pay for construction.
The framework
The plans for renovating Keller Sports Park started in 2021 when a task force formed to discuss transforming the three baseball fields that were constructed in the 1970s. The task force recommended significant renovations and updates in March 2022.
Fields for soccer, football, lacrosse and rugby followed, but Director of Community Services Cody Maberry said the current renovations are the first major work on the park since 2004.
Mayor Armin Mizani said the updates were needed. He said the park was once a “destination” that had been passed over by surrounding communities’ complexes.
“In my first strategic planning session as mayor [in 2021], we set a vision to be Texas’ most family-friendly city and set the renovation of the Keller Sports Park as a priority that would benefit area families for generations to come,” Mizani said.
Park changes include converting baseball fields to turf infields, updating the multipurpose field into two baseball fields, adding a Miracle League Field for players of all abilities and adding a splash pad.
Going forward
The park will debut the Victory Field North and Victory Field South baseball fields this spring after a ribbon-cutting ceremony was pushed back from January to April, Reynolds said.
Construction of City Sports is expected to be completed in late 2026, a filing with the Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation states.
Keller Soccer Association president Jeff Burbach said he sees the renovations and expansion as an opportunity to invest more into coach and player development. The KSA board added an education director, who will oversee all player and coach development in the organization starting in September.
“I’m proud of the investments we’ve made and look forward to seeing how the new park will support and inspire our young athletes,” Mizani said.
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