The city of Bellevue and Bellevue University are working together to bring collegiate-level softball and soccer fields to Haworth Park. What started over 18 months ago as conversations about the university using existing ballfields gradually developed into the building of a new softball field, a new soccer field, lights, bleachers, and a facility between the two fields that includes locker rooms, a press box, and restrooms.
The construction costs will be paid by Bellevue University while the city will provide grading and sewer infrastructure improvements that include building a lift station that will connect with American Heroes Park. While there is no set date to start construction, coaches from Bellevue University are hopeful to break ground later this year.
Bellevue University and the city are in the process of developing a Memorandum of Understanding which would be agreed upon by both parties and includes information such as maintenance responsibilities. The new fields will be located just north of the two existing ballfields at Haworth Park. The University will also be adding an additional 164 parking spaces to bring the total number of spots to 422.
The facilities will be shared between Bellevue University and the city, with the University using the fields for athletic practice, games, and hosted events.
Bellevue University Head Softball Coach Michala Cimino is excited about building these home fields in Bellevue. “Having a new athletic facility gives our current student-athletes and future Bruins a sense of pride in that we can truly say we have our own field. This allows us to continue to recruit the highest level student-athletes.”
Head Men’s Soccer Coach Tom White agreed, “Having a place where we can call home for our soccer players will give us so much pride. With this foundation being in the city of Bellevue it will continue to help us recruit some top-level student-athletes. Mark, Michala, and I have been here for a long while now and we can’t thank (University President) Mary (Hawkins), (Athletic Director) Ed (Lehotak), and everyone else enough for helping to make this happen. It’s an exciting time for our athletes, staff, and future Bruins.”
Head Women’s Soccer Coach Mark Heath-Preston added, “We are really very excited to have something of our own in Bellevue. Big Thank you to Ed and Mary for supporting this program and pushing for this field to be built as it will have a massive impact on both the current players as well as new and incoming players.”
The city believes these fields will also be a positive for local businesses. Bellevue City Administrator Jim Ristow said, “Bellevue University plans to hold many tournaments each year and you’ll have people coming from all over to attend. During the down periods between games parents, friends, family, coaches, and players will be eating at local restaurants, checking out local shops, and filling up at gas stations.”
