Field of Dreams becomes a reality

PONDERAY — Friday's impromptu soccer game wasn't the first held at the Field of Dreams.

But it delighted those gathered to celebrate Friday's groundbreaking for the first phase of the community sports complex nonetheless.

"I appreciate the kids being here. You're going to be the first ones on this field," Ponderay Mayor Steve Geiger said, looking over at a half-dozen youths who had broken away from the crowd to kick around a soccer ball. "That's great to see."

The groundbreaking marks the start of the Field of Dreams' first phase, which includes numerous soccer and multi-purpose sports fields, among other things such as lighting and other infrastructure items.

"This is a historic event for our community," Geiger told the several dozen people gathered for the groundbreaking. "We've been working on this and heard rumors and dreams of this project for over 30 years."

Holding a shovel given to the city when the Sand Creek Byway was built, Geiger noted the dirt at the Field of Dreams was fill from that project, making it only appropriate to use the shovel for the groundbreaking.

As he pushed the shovel into the dirt for the ceremonial event, the mayor joked that he didn't know why the dirt was so hard.

Geiger paid tribute to Mike Read, part of the Ponderay Youth Sports Association, and Floyd McGhee, who once owned the site, for their vision of turning the 50-acre site into a sports complex for everything from soccer to baseball fields, multi-use trails and more.

"Without those guys, I don't know if we'd be standing here today," Geiger said. "I just appreciate the fact that they had the vision, back in the day, that this was a needed thing. It's just taken a lot longer than any of us thought."

The Ponderay mayor also praised the community for its support of a five-year local option tax, which is funding the project's first phase among other projects. Geiger estimates the city is receiving roughly $3 million a year, with the money going toward the Field of Dreams and the purchase of waterfront property in the city.

"[This project] is all due to the to the generous community that we all live in here," Geiger said. "I'm thankful for those local option tax dollars because without those dollars, our budget would never, ever allow something like this to happen."

Geiger said he is pleased to be a part of the project, and to watch as a project long dreamed of by the community became a reality.

"It's just overwhelming, the feelings that you have about seeing what's going to happen," he said. "This is an investment in our entire community forever. Anything that we can do for the kids and those young families, and even the older folks and grandparents coming out to watch and enjoy them … I mean, there is truly something for everybody."

Standing beside heavy equipment onsite for the project, Geiger said work has already begun to construct the first phase. He told the crowd that the hope is the fields will be ready to play on by late next spring.

"This is going to be the heart of Bonner County's sports and activities," Geiger said. "We're going to live here for a lifetime and be able to enjoy it."

The city acquired the 50-acre "Field of Dreams" property — formerly known as "McGhee Sports Complex" — on Highway 95 in 2011. However, due to field conditions and the cost of development, the property has remained largely untouched over the years. Grant funding has helped the city outline a proposal — and voter approval of a one-cent local option in 2019 has generated funding for the project. In May, the city was able to take the next step forward and accepted an $8,040,157 bid from LaRiviere, Inc., formally setting the project's first phase in motion.

Seeing that dream become a reality was special, said former mayor Carol Kunzeman, who led talks with McGhee for the city's purchase of the property.

"It's really emotional," Kunzeman said of witnessing the field take its first steps toward reality.

Recalling those first meetings with McGhee about the city's purchase of the site, Kunzeman said the pair quickly formed a bond due to a shared desire to help the community's children.

Having grown up near a large sports complex and park, Kunzeman said a vision for something similar was shared by McGhee. He had asked to meet with her, saying he liked how she was running the city and wanted her input on whether his property could somehow be used for sports fields or a park. As he talked, Kunzeman mentioned her childhood playground.

"See this?" she remembered telling him as she showed him an online view of the facility. "This was 19 acres. You have 50. Do you know what I could do with 50 acres?"

McGhee was hooked as she outlined a dream for soccer and sports fields, ice skating, swimming and more. He had just one request: that a road be included in the project that linked the complex to the nearby city of Kootenai.

Afterward, the pair shook hands.

"He was such a kind gentleman," Kunzeman said. "When he stood up and shook my hand, he meant it."

Kunzeman said she came away from the meeting impressed by McGhee's desire to do something for the community's children.

"He wanted to have the soccer fields; that was very important to him," Kunzeman said. "He wanted a place where the children could always come and be safe.

Work on the Field of Dreams will take place in three phases.

The first phase includes six U6-U8 soccer/multi-purpose sports fields, four U11-12 soccer/multi-purpose sports fields, and a full-size soccer field. It will also include an open space on the property's southern half with a building that includes restrooms, storage, a concessions area, offices and other amenities. The northern part of the site would include a pavilion, as well as nature and multi-use trails.

A planned second phase would add a playground, sand volleyball courts, a playground, tennis courts, baseball fields and an indoor field house. The third phase would add more picnic areas, expand the field house and event center, an indoor ice rink and, potentially, a pool.

Information: cityofponderay.org/field-of-dreams