Sports Complex Planned for Berlin Turnpike
By David Huck | Correspondent at December 5, 2023 | 9:30 am | Print
Developers have proposed building a sprawling athletic complex on the southern end of the Berlin Turnpike that they hope will become a regional draw.
The developers, Ernie Addi and Moustapha Diakhate, who are avid soccer fans, are proposing a multi-level, 265,000 square foot facility south of Meadow Lane. The complex will include two full-sized multipurpose fields for soccer, lacrosse, football field hockey, rugby, and baseball infields, three collegiate sized basketball courts, a health and fitness facility, and running track.
The facility will be open to clubs, local recreation, and area high schools to compete and train across all seasons.
“We believe that there is a demand for a new, state of the art, multi-sports complex in central Connecticut and we chose Berlin as the location for this project because it as at the geographic center of the state and the location is on the Berlin Turnpike…one mile south of Route 9 and with convenient access from both I-91 and I-84,” Addi said “The Berlin Sports Complex will be family oriented multi-generational facility that will provide fitness, training, and sports activities such as soccer, basketball, baseball, football, and lacrosse. We will emphasize soccer and basketball, but accommodate a wide variety of sports.”
Other components that are planned include four batting cages, a baseball training area, a climbing wall, and a full service, sports-themed restaurant. Additionally, the developers are proposing to build four full-sized outdoor turf fields that include a lighted competition field in a “stadium setting.” To get children involved in sports at a young age, the developers are proposing a pre-school which would help them develop “athletic motor skills” and “emphasize good sports education.”
The proposed location for the facility is a 58 acre site on the Berlin Turnpike south of Meadow Lane. The developers own one parcel so far and are in negotiations to acquire three other parcels, which will give them access to the site at the traffic light at the intersection of the turnpike and Spruce Brook Road.
The additional parcels would also be used for the development of other buildings totaling about 16,000 square feet of space that would be used for “complimentary” businesses such as a coffee shop, physical therapy, or other retail opportunities.
To accommodate the users, the developers said they are planning to have upwards of 700 parking spaces.
Town officials praised the announcement of the project, which is expected to cost at least $20 million.
“The Berlin sports complex project is a major opportunity for the town to revitalize the southern part of the Berlin Turnpike,” Mayor Rachel Rochette said. “This sports, recreation, and fitness facility would be accessible to residents that now rely on similar sports families in Farmington. Glastonbury, and elsewhere.”
She added: “Truly I think 2016 is looking to be a good year for Berlin between this and the high school renovation being completed and the train station being completed.”
The developers said they plan to meet with athletic officials at Berlin High School to see how they might make use of the facility.
Due to the scale of the project, the proposal must go before the town’s Inland Wetlands and Planning and Zoning commissions. Addi said they expect to submit their application by mid-December.
He said they are also planning to hold public informational meetings to share their plans with neighbors and the community.
While there are five tracts of wetlands on the site, an architect working on the project—Tom Arcari of Farmington-based Quisenberry Arcari Architects—said they intend to take advantage of the features and use them for passive recreation for things like walking trails or fishing.
The developers are hoping to open the facility in October or November 2016.
The site is close to an existing bowling alley, two go cart tracks, miniature golf, and batting cages.
“We really see this as an opportunity to brighten what we’re sort of referring to as a little, micro sporting zone on the turnpike,” Arcari said.
