Sports enthusiasts rallied together at Wednesday morning’s groundbreaking ceremony to celebrate the start of construction on Roanoke’s exciting new 122-acre youth sports complex.
The complex, as previously featured in The Dallas Express, will serve as the home base of youth sports in North Texas.
Play It Forward will encompass five state-of-the-art, full-sized baseball fields and three versatile soccer fields. These fields will be adaptable for a range of sports, including football, lacrosse, and softball. The facility’s capabilities will extend to hosting regular practices and weekly tournaments, with the aim of supporting charitable causes and providing local scholarships for aspiring young athletes.
“In addition to the athletic fields, the Roanoke Sports Complex is built on 122 acres of serene property that will be connected to the surrounding community’s beautiful parks and trails through its own trail network. Located just minutes from downtown Roanoke, the complex will also feature a walkable retail and mixed-use facility anchored by a hotel, offering a high-end dining and shopping experience,” per the Play It Forward press release.
Dave Dickson, a managing partner at 114 Development, stated that the City of Roanoke and the developer have collaborated since 2020 to make the complex a reality.
With 28 years of experience in finance and entrepreneurship, Dickson brings his expertise to spearhead Play It Forward alongside Blake Beavan, a former MLB player who currently is the director of Dallas Tigers West Select Baseball Club.
During the September 28 groundbreaking ceremony, Dickson shared that the “park is about more than athletics—it’s about fostering growth and opportunities for our youth. It’s about creating a hub for community engagement and economic opportunity. I’m excited to see the positive impact it will have,” per the press release.
Beavan emphasized the significant impact that Play It Forward will make: “As someone who has benefited from quality facilities, mentorship, and community support in professional baseball, I’m excited to help provide the same opportunities to the next generation. This project will make a lasting impact on young athletes and the Roanoke community.”
David Murphy, a former Texas Ranger, emceed the ceremony and recounted the profound influence that youth sports had on shaping his life and career.
Murphy played with the Texas Rangers from 2007 to 2013. He also had stints with the Boston Red Sox, Cleveland Indians, and Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim in the MLB. As a youth athlete, Murphy played high school baseball at Klein High School, where he excelled as a pitcher and outfielder, guiding the team to a state championship in 1998. Murphy played ball at Baylor University before advancing to the minor leagues. He later made his MLB debut with the Boston Red Sox in 2006.
In addition to Murphy addressing attendees at the Play It Forward groundbreaking ceremony, “Roanoke Mayor Scooter Gierisch and State Representative Ben Bumgarner also spoke in support of the project and its importance in the fast-growing community. They stood alongside the World Series Trophy, provided by the Texas Rangers as a demonstration of their ongoing commitment to youth sports in North Texas,” read the press release.