GrimesPlex Moves into Next Phase

The City of Grimes is taking the next important steps to build GrimesPlex. This 50-acre synthetic turf complex will be one of the largest facilities of its kind in the Midwest. The multi-sports facility will have baseball, softball, soccer and football fields. GrimesPlex is a part of a 200-acre multi-use entertainment district called the Hope District, which is currently under construction. This will include retail, restaurants and hotel development.

At the Sept. 13 City Council meeting, the Grimes City Council approved several agenda items that will allow the project to progress into the next phase.

The Council voted to set bid letting and public hearing dates. When a project is built by a city, they are required to have a set deadline to accept construction bids. This will be on Tuesday, Oct. 18 at 10:30 a.m. There will also be a public hearing at 5:30 p.m. at their Tuesday City Council meeting on Oct. 25. The Council will vote on awarding the construction contract after the public hearing.

Construction on GrimesPlex will likely start in the spring of 2023. Some of the fields may open that spring. The full 50-acre complex should open in the fall of 2023.

The Council also voted to authorize City staff to solicit proposals for softball, baseball and concession tenants for GrimesPlex. City staff will now work with the Parks and Recreation Board to evaluate potential softball, baseball and concession tenants for GrimesPlex and will make a recommendation to the City Council. The City Council will evaluate whether alcohol will be sold at the concessions at a later meeting.

Initially, GrimesPlex was owned by Hope Development and the City of Grimes agreed to manage and maintain the facility. Then in the spring of 2022, Hope Development gifted the land and $12 million to the City of Grimes to take over ownership of GrimesPlex. At the Sept. 13 meeting, the Council voted to terminate this original management agreement since it no longer applies now that the City of Grimes owns GrimesPlex.

Also, during the original development of GrimesPlex in 2020, Hope Development entered into a lease agreement with Sporting Iowa. Now that GrimesPlex is owned by the City of Grimes, the Council voted to take over this lease agreement.

Before the City took over control of GrimesPlex, Hope Development incurred certain costs for the project. The Council voted to reimburse those costs.

Future Events at GrimesPlex

GrimesPlex will host national and local youth sports tournaments that will bring in families from around the Midwest. The estimated economic impact for the first year of operation is expected to be $11 million. The facility will also be used for youth and adult Parks and Recreation programming or future City events.

The total construction cost for GrimesPlex is estimated at $20 million. This project is being funded through faculty revenue bonding and developer participation.

GrimesPlex is located west of Highway 141 north of Hy-Vee. Project updates are available at storymaps.arcgis.com/stories/6fdc73dc905f44b9a6ed5b2d328a2613. Updates can also be found facebook.com/grimesplex.

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