It was a great day for sports and community development in Leesburg as city leaders, residents and officials gathered to celebrate the groundbreaking Susan Street Complex redevelopment.

The 26-acre project will give a complete transformation of the existing facility and is expected to become a premier destination for youth football, soccer, flag-football and Rugby, among other sports in the region. Once completed, the state-of-the-art complex will feature six multi-purpose fields, including a championship field with an artificial turf surface, as well as locker rooms, concessions and restrooms.

“This project has been a long time coming for our community,” Leesburg Mayor Alan Reisman said during the ceremony. “This was talked about the last 10 to 14 years. To see it come to fruition and the economic possibilities that will happen are fantastic. I am proud of everyone on getting this project off the ground.”

The redevelopment has been made possible through a combination of funding sources, including the Lake County Tourist Development Council, a Legislative Priority Grant, and the American Recovery Act. Additional city contributions come from Recreation Impact Fees and the Carver Heights/Montclair and 441/27 Community Redevelopment Areas. In total, the project represents a $10.5 million investment into the community.

Designed by Halff Associates and built by Kingdom Construction, the complex is projected to open in January 2026.

Director of Leesburg Parks and Recreation Travis Rima reflected on his journey since taking the position in 2014, saying he knew he made the right choice when he saw local children playing recreation soccer in his first week.

“A week ago when we came to Susan Street and saw the progress, I looked at Marcus Niblack and said, ‘What did we get ourselves into?’” Rima said with a chuckle. “But the demolition work is ongoing, and we are moving forward. We cannot wait for this project to be finished. It’s going to be such a benefit to our youth sports teams and a boost to the local economy in our area.”

Although this was the groundbreaking ceremony, construction actually began in late March.

“When we signed Ian Nichols, the contractor, they got to work right away,” Rima added. “Within the first day, they already had a baseball field torn apart, and they haven’t stopped since. We are thankful for the quick work that’s been happening here.”

The new facility will include four grass fields with Musco lighting, field goal posts, scoreboards, and bleachers, one auxiliary grass field, and the signature Championship Field. City officials emphasized the importance of reorganizing local sports infrastructure, with the Susan Street Complex set to serve as the hub for football and soccer, while the Sleepy Hollow Complex will be dedicated to “stick and ball” sports like baseball and softball.

Roger Croft, highlighted how the new complex will help families stay together.

“The way things were going, you had families being split up between different complexes,” Croft said. “Now Susan Street will become the primary rectangular field complex while Sleepy Hollow complex becomes the stick and ball fields. It will be a big benefit to the families in order to not be split up as much.”

Leesburg Commissioner Allyson Berry, who represents District 1, expressed deep personal pride.

“This marks a major milestone in Leesburg history,” she said. “This is a moment I will always cherish to see happen in my district. I am so proud of the effort that went into getting this program off the ground.”

Lake County Commissioner Tim Morris, a Leesburg native, also reflected on the project’s significance.

“When I was growing up in Leesburg, we didn’t have many sports or recreation fields,” Morris said. “I’m proud of what this complex means to the community and excited about the economic growth opportunities it will bring. It’s the perfect destination for tourism-driven sports events.”

The Susan Street Complex is expected to host a wide array of youth and regional tournaments upon completion, fueling local business and tourism for years to come. This was a big day and we are excited to see the complex finished in January of 2026.

Photos by Cindy Peterson