Newton replats land for Project Fastpitch and rallies for support

It has been more than five years since developers pitched the idea of building a multi-million-dollar softball complex in Newton, and since then the progress of what is known as Project Fastpitch has been rather slow. Still, city officials like council member Randy Ervin have maintained their optimism.

Prior to approving the replatting and consolidation of land for the future softball complex — which also establishes a clear legal description and new lot lines for the property located in the 3000 block of Rusty Wallace Drive — Ervin shared his feelings about the project and rallied residents to see its potential.

“This is not just a softball field,” Ervin said. “This is a regional and even national opportunity for the city of Newton. When people look at this, it seems like it’s been six years or seven years since we’ve been working on this. So to see it come to fruition, I think, is very important for the city.”

When the project was first announced back in August 2019, developers said the tournament-style softball complex would be surrounded by 12 outdoor fields and include four indoor fields that all meet NCAA standards. The facility is to be built on a vacant piece of land between Iowa Speedway and Interstate 80.

It is an important project for the city, and it has big potential to boost the local economy. Ervin acknowledged that there are some people who still question the validity or the size or the culture of the private softball complex, and that is in large part because it has been a number of years since it was announced.

Fundraising was driven to a halt following the pandemic, which was in full force a number of months after developers and the major partners unveiled the project. Ever since then the city council has passed resolutions and agreements similar to this past week’s action that have assisted the project and prepared the land.

Newton City Council voted 6-0 to approve to Fastpitch SB Complex Minor Plat 1, which consolidated five existing parcels and created one lot. The lot for the softball complex is 59.91 acres. There is also 3.28 acres to the southwest and 21.22 acres to the east that will be the location of future development.

It is expected that hotels, restaurants and retail stores will be built around the softball complex, accomplishing the city’s goals of attracting more tourism.

“This is a project we need to get behind,” Ervin said. “It’s good for the city. It’s good for the future. It increases tourism, as well as provides local jobs.”

Council member Mellisa Dalton added, “It’s good for Iowa.”

“It’s great for the state of Iowa,” Ervin said. “Absolutely.”