K8 Sunday, June 26, 2016 | The Repository | CantonRep.
com
Hall of Fame Village: Youth Fields
GAME ON: First phase of
youth sports complex complete
By Kelli Young
Repository staff writer
What had been a high
school baseball diamond
and a field of grass last year is
now the site of two artificial
turf fields that will host some
of the nations most promis-
ing athletes.
The two multipurpose
fields, along with an exist-
ing grass football field, make
up the first phase of the $22
million National Football
& Youth Sports Complex,
REPOSITORY MICHAEL BALASH
which is expected to attract
n Clint Fetty is the general manager of the Hall of Fames youth
more than 200,000 players
and families when its fin- sports complex.
ished in 2018. The complex is
one of the eight major com-
ponents of the planned $500
million Hall of Fame Village.
Steve Strawbridge, senior
REPOSITORY SCOTT HECKEL
n Two new multipurpose fields sit at the south end of the Pro Football Hall of Fame Village.
Meet the GM
By Kelli Young its first three multipur-
vice president for the Pro Repository staff writer pose fields June 18. Up to
Football Hall of Fame, said up exists on the property, which boast 3,000 bleacher seats as said the area still is being nine fields are planned for
to six additional fields will be is owned by the Canton well as a larger scoreboard. designed but could include CANTON The man the 25-acre area south of
built in phases over the next City School District. Their Strawbridge said champi- a combination of a single- responsible for sched- McKinley High School.
two years on the 25-acre plan includes offsetting the onship games eventually story permanent building uling the hundreds of Fetty, who was the ath-
site. The fields sit south of environmental impact by could be moved into the Tom and the use of mobile carts. events at the Hall of Fame letic director at Ravenna
McKinley High School and restoring and improving Benson Hall of Fame Sta- Strawbridge believes each Villages new youth fields High School for the past
are bordered by 17th Street, nearby Canton City parks. dium, which is undergoing of the planned features will is a former high school two years, not only will
Harrison Avenue, Hellen an $80 million reconstruc- distinguish the complex athletic director who now
Distinguishing factors coordinate the events
Place and Clarendon Avenue tion that is expected to be from the other youth fields lives in East Canton. scheduled at the field, but
NW. The eastern portion Strawbridge said each of completed in July 2017. that exist. Clint Fetty was hired also any other team needs
of the area commonly is the new fields will be cov- Each of the fields will be Youth sports is a com- earlier this month by and will coordinate event-
known as Don Scott Field. ered with an NFL-grade equipped with lights and the petitive business, said New Hampshire-based day logistics as well. This
It is named after the former artificial turf and will be latest technology, Straw- Strawbridge, who travels to Legacy Global Sports as year, Legacy is doing a
McKinley High School star lined for football, soccer and bridge said. Among the new youth soccer tournaments to the general manager of test-run with its book-
and two-time All-American lacrosse. Synthetic turf also features will be video capa- watch his teenager compete. the National Football & ing of events at the fields
Ohio State University quar- is expected to be installed bilities that would allow a The differentiators are the Youth Sports Complex, to ensure all the kinks are
terback who died in 1943 next year at the grass field. coach or parent to zoom in key. which is one of the eight fixed.
when his bomber crashed All fields will have and follow a specific player Another selling point major components of
while he was training as a Originally from Reyn-
bleacher-style seating for on the field. will be the Hall of Fame the planned $500 million
pilot during World War II. oldsburg, Fetty has
150 people, as well as space A football-field-sized con- Village, which will fea- Hall of Fame Village. The worked as an athletic
Developers currently are along the sidelines to allow course also is being planned ture restaurants, a hotel, complex, which will host director at DelawareHayes
seeking clearance from the spectators to bring chairs that will include areas for and other family-friendly football, lacrosse, soccer High School for four years
Ohio Environmental Pro- and blankets. One of the medical services as well as attractions. and other field-based
tection Agency to eliminate fields will be designated a food, beverage and mer- sporting events, opened SEE GM, K10
a forested wetland area that championship field and will chandise sales. Strawbridge SEE YOUTH, K10
