The City of Buda is betting big on bats, balls, and more parking spaces. Following a City Council meeting, they've greenlighted a substantial expansion and renovation plan for the Buda Sportsplex that's set to serve both local sports enthusiasts and draw in crowds from beyond the city limits. Approved in late January 2025, the $6.7 million project plans encompass a broad strike zone of amenities, hoping to transform Buda into a hotspot for sports tourism and community recreation.
According to Community Impact, DCS Engineering, LLC is steering the schematic design of the Sportsplex, promising a host of new facilities that includes the addition of quadplexes for softball or baseball, complete with four new fields adjoining the existing four. Amidst the promise of upgraded soccer fields, volleyball courts, and the ever-popular pickleball courts, the plan also adds substantial parking amenities, with room for 860 vehicles and 15 RV spots. Darren Strozewski, founder and CEO of DCS Engineering, assured that four of these RV spots will dual as food truck vending areas, merging two of America's greatest pastimes: sports and eating.
Adding to the city's optimism around this expansion, officials expect that with all bases loaded, the Sportsplex could draw upwards of 11,000 visitors during peak times, as highlighted in a City Council presentation. With the stakes high and pitches coming fast, the city has pegged the completion dates for the softball and baseball facilities for March 31, 2026, while the other amenities should be game-ready by August 31, 2026. Not only is Buda swinging for the fences with this strategic move for more economic activity, but they're also playing hardball about enhancing quality of life for its residents.
But this isn't the first inning for the Sportsplex. Originally built in 2007, this sports facility was pitched to become a major economic driver but didn't quite score a home run due to its outdated features. City documents obtained by CBS Austin denounced the prior conditions as not being to snuff. In a nod to past challenges, Buda City Manager Micah Grau emphasized the importance of not just envisioning a masterplan but bringing a fully-designed project across the home plate this time around. "So, this gets us further down the road with that vision with a fully-designed project," Grau told Community Impact, well-aware that the city's fortunes may well turn on getting this right.
Yet, there's more to this expansion than just sports and spaces. The approved plan also involves the tricky maneuver of relocating the existing dog park – a move that is already seeing the city officials inviting residents to share thoughts on potential new locations at the Parks Commission meeting on February 19. As the renovation plan swings into action, Buda is looking to catch a sizeable share of the boom in sports tourism, which, according to a Sports Events & Tourism Association report, brought in a hefty $52.2 billion in direct spending in 2023. That's no small peanuts, and Buda is clearly hoping to play in the big leagues.
