ROCHESTER — After months of deliberation, it appears a site has been selected for Rochester’s $65 million sports and recreation facility.
The City Council will vote Monday on a proposed $5 million purchase of 160 acres of land in southeast Rochester, near Lowe’s and the Shoppes on Maine retail complex. The land sits northwest of the city’s Gamehaven Regional Park.
The sports complex is financed through the source of income of sales tax.
“The city has undertaken extensive due diligence and negotiations to select the optimal site for a Rochester Sports and Recreation Complex that meets both the funding requirements for regional impact and the community’s vision for inclusive recreational benefits,” Rochester Parks And Forestry Division Head Mike Nigbur wrote in a report sent to the Rochester City Council.
“This decision reflects a balanced approach that prioritizes equity, accessibility, economic impact and long-term development potential while aligning with broader citywide long-term goals,” he added.
The proposed site, which largely sits outside current city borders, is a portion of farmland owned by Seneca Foods.
The report says the location has the potential for expansion and private development, which could include housing opportunities.
May will also be available thanks to a new trail provided between Gamehaven and 28th Street Southeast, Nigbur’s report notes.
The city has also tried two other places for the sports complex, adding 107 acres of land on the old IBM campus and a 116 acres site outside the doors of the northwest border of the city. The old acquisition of the IBM campus site for approximately $ 5. 4 million was considered too dear due to the additional expenses that would have been required to acquire. The northwest location had a value of $ 2. 7 million, but was considered less horny for the project.
“A key thing to settle on this site is its ability to equity and multimodal connectivity,” he wrote about the southeast location. “Located in a strategic domain that is recently experiencing investments with multimodal access, this site can be integrated with long -term transport networks and supply recreational opportunities in a unattended and traditionally unnecessated component of the community. “
The report to the Council indicates, however, the expected need for more funds.
While the city staff negotiated a relief of $ 1. 3 million of the original proposed acquisition price, as well as 10 other acres, the plan presented reveals the two -phase structure with a request to look for more monetary for the phase for the moment.
The first phase would focus on outdoor recreation, with the proposed creation of eight softball and baseball fields, two soccer fields and 12 pickleball courts, along with a potential restaurant or food hall, a playground and dog park. It would include other amenities, support facilities and parking for up to 800 vehicles.
The council report indicates that the phase for the moment would come with 8 shorts of multiple internal uses, an internal education and grass games area, a circle of activities of medium relatives and a track, among other comforts and additional parking lots.
“This approach ensures the complex becomes a regional draw while also serving as a hub for community activity,” Nigbur wrote of starting development with the outdoor portion of the facility. “It balances fiscal responsibility by minimizing upfront tax levy subsidies for operations and creating flexibility for future phases.”
The Municipal Council will vote on the factor on Monday at 6 p. m. Mondays. Meeting in the Chambers of the Council.