A groundbreaking was held for a sports complex, which is to include five-on-five turf soccer fields, at Kosciusko Community YMCA’s Parkview Warsaw location on Monday, May 15. Present were YMCA staff, Kosciusko Chamber of Commerce and K21 Health Foundation representatives and employees with G&G Hauling & Excavating, which is completing work for the project. K21 donated about half the cost of the facility, which will be called the K21 Sports Complex. Standing with the shovels are from left: Chamber President and CEO Rob Parker, YMCA Membership Director Lori Haywood, YMCA Director of Operations Stacy Thomas, K21 Grant Manager Jennifer Stewart, K21 President and CEO Rich Haddad, YMCA CEO Dr. Jim Swanson, YMCA Director of Healthy Living Tracy Frick, YMCA Director of Human Resources Heidi Moseley and YMCA Director of Finance Stacey Anderson.

Text and Photos
By Leah Sander
InkFreeNews

WARSAW — Soccer is “one of the growing sports in this country.”

That’s according to Kosciusko Community YMCA CEO Dr. Jim Swanson. He spoke during a groundbreaking ceremony on Monday, May 15, for the YMCA’s Parkview Warsaw location’s new sports complex, which includes five-on-five turf soccer fields.

Present were YMCA staff, Kosciusko Chamber of Commerce and K21 Health Foundation representatives and employees with G&G Hauling & Excavating. The latter is completing work for the facility. K21 Health Foundation contributed more than $400,000 for the project, which is about half the cost.

Swanson noted a regular soccer field had been in place for seven years where the new facility is to go in.

“It’s been the vision when this building was created to do something with this field along the lines of a sports complex, and so it’s just an awesome thing to be at that point today,” he said. “So we kind of changed the narrative (from) this rough-looking field to an elite sports complex.”

“It’s a thrill to be the first facility, the first group in Kosciusko County to — from what I know — develop five-on-five turf soccer fields,” said Swanson.

There will be two lighted, fenced-in fields in the facility that will be open at the top, he said. Other activities that will occur at the complex include volleyball and wiffle ball.

“It will be an elite complex for families to come to, to play, to enjoy, to develop in the area of character and integrity and sportsmanship, but also in the area of soccer,” said Swanson.

“Our mission at the Y is to put Christian principles into practice through programs that build healthy spirit, mind and body,” he continued. “The YMCA is famous for its holistic, competitive and character-building approach to development. This complex will bring families closer together, encourage good health and foster connections through fun and shared activities.”

Swanson said the complex should be finished in about a month. He thanked K21.

“They have been incredibly supportive to our Y for years and continue to be,” said Swanson, adding that the complex would be named the K21 Sports Complex.

K21 President and CEO Rich Haddad, also spoke, mentioning how all ages would enjoy the complex.

He said the project “builds” off of the original Parkview Warsaw facility, which K21 gave $2 million for.

“It’s wonderful that we’ll be kind of a permanent presence and partner with the Y here, and we’re looking forward to how this is going to really expand people’s opportunity to be active and continue to drive a culture in our community where everyone of us has every opportunity to live their healthiest life,” said Haddad.

YMCA Board Chairman Scott Schneider spoke, thanking YMCA staff for their helping develop the idea for the complex.

Swanson reiterated after the meeting the YMCA was “super excited” to be putting in the complex.

“We’re … grateful for our donors, our board, their work … our staff and the staff’s families,” he said. “They do a lot of work, and the families give up a lot of time for our full-time staff to be a part of all the dreaming, brainstorming committee meetings. And this is a giving community, so we’re fortunate.”

Swanson said the cost of the complex is about 80% covered. To give for the remainder, people should visit Kosciusko Community YMCA’s website to find forms, being careful to note when they donate that funds are for the complex.

Swanson speaks at the groundbreaking.

Haddad talks.

YMCA Board Chairman Scott Schneider speaks.