Chelsea complex to open this fall; no games likely until ‘17

Even though the Chelsea Sports Complex is set to open in late August or early September, it likely will not see baseball games until 2017.

“I don’t want to get out on the grass until it gets a good hold,” said Mayor Earl Niven.

Phase I of the sports complex — which includes three baseball fields, batting cages, a concession stand, a walking trail, a lake and a children’s play area — has been in the works for almost two and a half years. 

The land was purchased at that time, and the city of Chelsea went through several months of planning before work began.

“I think it’s gone real good,” Niven said of the construction process. “We had a little delay on the permitting for the concession stand that set us back about a month, but other than that it’s gone on schedule.”

Batting cages, two per field, will help teams practice before their games in addition to providing a general practice area for teams on non-game days, Niven said. The project will hopefully bring more baseball tournaments to Chelsea, he said, which can help benefit the city.

The baseball fields also will be a way for Chelsea’s youngest residents to practice and help boost the city’s sports programs, Niven said.

“The demographics of our city, there’s so many youths, and this is just going to provide places for them to play and prepare them for a 6A school,” he said. “This is just a start because we have a second phase, which will be five additional fields, and it will have one that high school players can play on.”

Phase II of the sports complex includes five baseball and softball fields, a soccer field and a football field. 

Niven said it will probably be another year before work is started on that phase, although that will be up to the discretion of the new city council and mayor.

“I think there would be a few months just to let things settle and to see the need of the city from their viewpoint,” Niven said.

Niven said there are plans to hold a ribbon— cutting or opening celebration before November so that the city officials who helped put the sports complex plans into motion can participate.