River City Sportsplex Operational Overhaul

About the Program

Category: Parks and Recreation (Best in Category)

Year: 2018

In 2012, Shaw Industries Group, Inc. (Shaw) took control of River City Sportsplex as the largest creditor of record during the bankruptcy proceedings of the original owner, however, operation of an athletic complex was not part of the core business of Shaw. Chesterfield County was well acquainted with the facility and did not hesitate to purchase the site when it became available in December of 2016. When management of the facility was turned over to the County’s Parks and Recreation Department (Department), the partially completed facility was in a state of disrepair. Thousands of pounds of debris were removed from the location, long ignored maintenance tasks were addressed, and a plan for the completion of the facility was developed. The Department altered job responsibilities to operate the facility. The Department’s Sports Tourism and Finance divisions worked collaboratively to analyze existing contract terms, set up a compliance and payment tracking system, and collect past due accounts. In the one year since the County’s acquisition of the property, the collective efforts of the Department have established River City Sportsplex as the premier destination for youth sports tournaments in the Mid-Atlantic region.