Edmond softball complex groundbreaking will be Wednesday

The ceremony will be at the site of the city's new community park, Edmond 66 Park, being created on the northeast corner of Post Road and State Highway 66.

Construction on the four-field complex is expected to start next week. Completion is expected in late summer or early fall 2013.

The concessions and restrooms will have a Route 66 theme.

The softball project started with renovation of the old fields at Bickham Softball Complex on Midwest Boulevard between Danforth and Covell roads. The fourth community park was purchased, and now the cost includes constructing the infrastructure.

The city has made minor upgrades at the old fields at Bickham Softball Complex through the years. Maintenance for the complex is done by the softball association, which leases the facilities.

Softball players have been frustrated for at least five years because the money was in the bank and the city was taking so long getting the project started. A number of problems, particularly the design work, delayed the project.

The first bid, with eight fields, came in with a $10.5 million price tag, but the city only had $4.5 million for the project from special sales tax approved by voters in 2000 for capital improvements. Four of the fields were put on hold.

Land for the new park cost $1.5 million.