Photo: City of Westfield
In its quest to serve the needs of the local athletes and attract a hospitality industry, the city of Westfield, Ind., is bringing the community and amateur-sports tourism together at Grand Park.
With more than 650,000 visits in the spring and summer of 2014, Grand Park has already surpassed its first-year projections. However, it has not been without its challenges. Like many urban park systems, the park must thrive in conditions of increased fiscal constraint and growing visitor expectations while navigating the sheer magnitude of land management, demand for revenue, cost savings, and innovation.
Investing In Sports
The initial concept for the park began as a plan to create sustainable playing fields for local youth athletes. While researching potential locations, city leaders learned that sports tourism amounts to $7 billion in annual revenue. The Westfield Sports Commission was formed and worked closely with Hamilton County Tourism to develop a plan to build a facility that would serve the needs of local athletes, attract tournaments from across the country, and make hospitality the city’s industry.