When Ray Kinsella, the lead character in the 1989 hit film Field of Dreams, heard a voice whisper “If you build it, he will come”, he took a chance that paid off. In the final scene of the film hundreds of cars are seen approaching the newly constructed ballfield in his rural Iowa cornfield, fulfilling the prophecy that people will come to watch baseball.
Noble County’s own “field of dreams”, the Kendallville Outdoor Recreation Complex (KORC), is poised to enjoy a similar outcome because a group of local business leaders and citizens took a chance. Their efforts to raise $2.38 million has transformed an 89-acre property on the city’s east side from a humble beginning in 2006 into a world-class tournament venue ready to welcome athletes from near and far, as well as the community at large.
Proving once again that collaboration is key to bringing quality of life improvements to Noble County, a mix of private donations and grants, a lot of passion, and some patience, is paying off. Contributors to the truly extraordinary KORC have included Kendallville’s Park Board, Park and Recreation Department, city leaders, Noble County Economic Development Corporation, Dekko Foundation, Kendallville Rotary Club, Wayne Township, Northeast Indiana Regional Development Authority, Shepherd’s Chevrolet Buick GMC, Noble REMC, Slater’s Concrete Products and many other local citizens and small businesses.
Work to develop the park was carried out in two phases. By the end of Phase I, completed in 2017, the complex included eight multi-use fields, concessions, and restrooms, as well as three soccer fields, basketball courts, and a concrete path for biking and walking. Landscaping, lighting, irrigation, and a maintenance building were also completed during Phase I. A pavilion, batting cage, six shuffleboard courts, playground, three practice fields, and three horseshoe pits brought such a plethora of opportunity that a general manager was also hired, Brett Slone. Slone is tasked with maintaining the KORC and bringing in events for groups to use the facilities and generate an income stream.
As Phase I work was finished, a successful pitch for a $400,000 Regional Cities grant, awarded by the Northeast Indiana Regional Development Authority, and a $266,000 investment from Noble County Economic Development Corporation, kick-started Phase II fundraising. As a result, in 2019, four more ball diamonds, paved parking, lighting and concession improvements, covered pavilions, and an outdoor mobile stage were added.
Phase II enabled Slone to begin scheduling multiple events and more teams to engage, something that was not possible prior to that expansion. He has been aided in that effort by one of the voices who shared the notion that “if you build it” they will come. Jason Meade, a lifelong resident of Noble County, was a baseball coach at Central Noble and East Noble schools who only recently stepped down to coach his own seven-year-old son in the East Noble Youth Baseball League. Meade owns Hit the Field Sports, an organization that helps youth participate in competitive games at the KORC and encourages good sportsmanship and attitude among all players, coaches, and fans. Working with Slone, they bring players together to engage at the KORC with opportunities outlined and delivered through the organization’s website at https://hitthefieldsports.com.
Today, Kendallville Outdoor Recreation Complex is poised to host all tournaments in one convenient location with easy access to Bixler Lake, including the campground. A significant increase in the number of teams playing baseball, softball, ragball, T-ball, and soccer was seen at the venue during 2019 with an increase from 300 to 400 teams in just one year. Not bad, considering a rainy spring in 2019 delayed construction past Memorial Day weekend, clipping the window of opportunity to promote the venue to summer leagues. Followed by the historic COVID-19 pandemic in 2020, which took an obvious toll on most team activities and plans to host hundreds of people anywhere, the best is yet to come!
2021 brings a renewed enthusiasm as the world moves closer to the end of the pandemic. Nearly 30 seasonal staff and volunteers are expected to return to the KORC to serve customers and help maintain the massive facility. Slone will likely reach out to local restaurants so they can be ready when needed to serve an influx of out-of-town visitors over the coming months.
Like those characters portrayed in Field of Dreams, real life souls in Noble County and northeast Indiana had a vision for a farm field. Like Ray and his hometown friends, family, and colleagues, they rallied together. This year may finally be the year they get to see cars lined up and filling the parking lot in for games, concerts and more at the KORC.
Learn more or plan your next event at the KORC at https://www.kendallville-in.org/departments/Park/OutdoorRecreationComplex or by calling (260) 347-1064.
