Future Sports Complex planned for Barren County

By Allyson Dix, Managing Editor/Barren County Progress

 

Glasgow Mayor Henry Royse announced yesterday evening in a council meeting the first planned project for the Cleveland Avenue property, which the city purchased in September 2024.

The city purchased around 161 acres with a $6,147,640 price tag last year. Since then, many questions, suggestions, and scenarios have evolved, Royse said.

Royse said that the city plans to provide 15 acres of that land for the future of a sports complex, envisioned by Barren County Judge/Executive Jamie Byrd. Royse said the decision comes after several months of due process, meetings with engineers, developers, and city department heads.

“The City of Glasgow is embracing that vision by providing the property to build the much-anticipated sports complex within that 160 acres,” Royse said.

In order for Byrd to apply for a grant to pay for hiring an architect to design the sports complex, a location was needed. Royse said that through negotiations, the city moved forward with an agreement to provide the acreage needed.

The architecture grant was approved not long after, and now, the pieces are falling together, Royse said.

“This recreational endeavor is a natural way to start developing more residential properties, more retail opportunities, including restaurants,” the mayor said.

The location is situated on HWY 1297/Cleveland Avenue, which the roadway is already on schedule with the state transportation department to be widened and sidewalks along both sides from the bypass out to the soccer complex. Over 50-percent of the properties needed to complete this road project have been purchased at the state level, with the remaining having been assigned agents to finish. Royse said the road work is anticipated to start in fiscal year 2027.

In the May 20 fiscal court meeting, Barren County Magistrates approved entering into a contract with Sherman, Carter, Barnhart Architects for the design phase of the sports complex.

According to the contract, the new multi-use sports complex will be located on city-owned property and plans to include indoor basketball and volleyball courts, indoor tennis and pickleball courts, indoor soccer facilities, golf practice / E-sports facilities, pitching and batting cages, and a cafe/concessions area.

“The emergence of this opportunity for the youth in our area is a significant development,” Byrd told the Barren County Progress. “It presents a chance for the county and city to work together, foster opportunities for our youth, tournament opportunities that boost tourism, and convenient options for families who travel to other facilities.”

The state budget allocation for Barren County multi-county projects helps to enable the initiation for the architect and design phase, Byrd explained. An expected construction bid packet is anticipated for December 2025.

“We will then engage in advocacy efforts, seeking support from our representatives and senators to secure state funding for this project,” Byrd said.

However, she added that the funding model will comprise a combination of public and private sources.

“We anticipate breaking ground on the construction phase in the summer/fall of 2026,” Byrd said.

Mayor Royse said a more detailed presentation will be given to the city council at a later date for approval.