17 Springs to create generational impact in Elmore County (2024)

More than 100 construction workers are currently on site at 17 Springs bringing Phase 2 to life.

Six diamond fields already have turf. Soon the football field at the Highway 14 complex in Millbrook will too. The adjacent Field House at 17 Springs is coming to life as well.

It is all part of a $100 million project aimed at creating economic development and tax revenue for years to come.

“It’s an economic boom for all of us,” Elmore County Economic Development Authority director Lisa Van Wagner said. “There is nothing else in this state that can compete with this. This will draw visitors from all over. Once the market place is developed, it will be a gold mine of continuous revenue for the county and our municipalities.”

The development is fronted with commercial space in front of the athletic facilities. Two hotels are close to coming to the development. That is in addition to hotels already open in western Elmore County and two currently under construction in Millbrook.

“It is going to perpetually serve and benefit us,” Elmore County Commission chair Bart Mercer said.

The growth in sales and lodging tax has enabled the commission to commit to funding another $20 million in quality of life projects across Elmore County. There are more artificial turf diamond fields coming to Holtville and Eclectic. Turf is going down on football fields in those communities and Tallassee and all will be completed by next summer. Tallassee is also getting a new recreation center.

All of the work is creating attention across the state.

“We don’t bring it up but everybody asks about it,” Mercer said. “They ask, ‘Hey what is it that y’all are building in Elmore County?’ Of course we love to tell everyone about it.”

Mercer and other officials across Elmore County are quick to note not one entity could pull all of these projects together by themselves.

“I have told multiple people this is an example of what you can do when you extract personal agendas and egos and operate as governmental entities,” Mercer said. “If you truly want to serve the people you represent, this is what it looks like. What we have accomplished is not only Class A facility but it is how we have done that has gotten the attention.”

The project in Millbrook involves five main partners — City of Millbrook, Grandview YMCA, Elmore County Commission, Elmore County Economic Development Authority and Elmore County Board of Education. The projects across the county have varied partners depending on the location. Those include the City of Wetumpka, Town of Eclectic and the City of Tallassee.

Everyone brings something to the table to make the projects come together in each community.

At 17 Springs the YMCA had a donation of property with an idea to create athletic opportunities for area children.

“The property was a catalyst for a lot of this back in 2013,” Grandview YMCA director Bill Meyers said. “We had a very generous family to donate the property, and it allowed us to dream big and get other partners on board.”

The YMCA didn’t have the needed capital to pull together a large scale project in Elmore County. Conversations started with the City of Millbrook and the county commission. Over a period of time the partnership formed. Millbrook purchased more property and provided funding. Elmore County provided funding and in-kind services such as site work.

A.J. Hernandez is the new CEO of the Montgomery YMCA. He comes from Texas and is used to large athletic facilities. He said the YMCA doesn’t have facilities like 17 Springs anywhere and the project in Millbrook is a new approach for the organization.

“It is really the future state of the Y,” Hernandez said. “This will be the example they will use around the country.”

The Elmore County Board of Education is providing property for some of the projects across the county. Board president David Jones is pleased with how the partnership has benefited so many entities.

“It is amazing what you can accomplish when no one gets credit,” Jones said.

Phase 1 of the project was completed last year and has drawn more than 100,000 guests. It is only about 20% of the work at 17 Springs. Portions of the Blue Gray Tennis Tournament were at the complex. It has allowed Stanhope Elmore to create tennis teams. High school regional tennis tournaments have occurred there as well as numerous soccer tournaments.

Its pickle ball courts are constantly full and drawing the attention of tournament officials as well.

The soccer fields can also be used for football.

Meyers said one organization called on a Wednesday to host a three-day youth football tournament just two days later.

“They are coming back in July, September and October to have a similar event bringing about 2,000 people,” Meyers said.

Junior college soccer teams are coming later this year from Florida, Texas and Louisiana.

“They are coming for two days of games,” Meyers said. “They meet here in the middle and invite others to come here.”

When Phase 2 of 17 Springs is complete in January 2025 and the other fields across Elmore County even larger events could happen.

Mercer envisions teams playing in all the communities on all the fields in a tournament-style play.

In the case of softball or 12U baseball and under, the championship fields at 17 Springs will be a huge draw with shaded bleachers and spacious amenities. 17 Springs also has four other diamond fields for tournaments to take advantage of.

The Field House at 17 Springs is more than 80,000 square feet. It is large enough to house four basketball courts, eight volleyball courts or a dozen wrestling mats. There are ways to use the facility for conferences and training.

“That’s Mayor Al Kelley’s brain child,” Beyer said. “He pitched it to the group and got buy in. This will keep traffic in the complex year around.”

It all spills out onto a concourse overlooking the homestands of a stadium complex where soccer, football and track can occur. It is also being set up for outdoor concerts as well.

Many of the buildings can be used no matter what is happening. On the home side bathrooms can be used by those inside or outside. The concession stand and bathrooms on the visitors side of the stadium are the entrance to the diamond fields.

All of the fencing and partitions allow for limited to unlimited access meaning home and visitor crowds can be segregated if needed. It also means those in the diamond field area won’t necessarily have access to the stadium.

“We have ways to have multiple events at the same time,” Beyer said.

The entire campus is pedestrian friendly. There are prep kitchens to allow catering for events. The facility will mainly offer stadium food.

“Out front with the marketplace, that is where we are trying to push them for restaurants,” Beyer said.

From the marketplace attention will be drawn back to the Fieldhouse on purpose. When viewed from Highway 14, everyone will first see the retail, restaurant and hotel spaces and then the athletic complex behind.

The overall basic design is to have a noticeable visual impression on everyone.

“For this to work, there has to be a wow factor,” City of Millbrook projects manager Stuart Peters said. “It has to be a destination where the younger generation wants to come. 17 Springs, that is the place I want to go. This isn’t the biggest stadium or complex in the state or Southeast. It is going to be the nicest with the best quality, the best construction.”

It is those amenities the partners believe will attract “next level events” from places like Atlanta, Birmingham and Nashville. It also helps to be centrally located in the state just one mile from Interstate 65.

County tourism falls under the Elmore County EDA. Wagner believes all of the quality of life projects including 17 Springs will help in developing Elmore County beyond athletics.

“It touches all aspects of economic development,” Wagner said. “Families are going to want to move here because of this. Families who are already here will want to stay because of it. It will draw the eyes of other developers and potential industries looking for a place to locate. It will be incredible.”