Hutto Family YMCA officials continue to look for ways to expand the number of outdoor fields for community youth sports programs, and now the organization would like to partner with the city to obtain a grant from the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department to build more fields.

Joel Coombs, member of the Hutto YMCA board of directors, made a presentation to Hutto City Council at its Jan. 21 meeting outlining a plan to obtain grant funding.

He said the organization has already received more than $1 million in donations and in-kind services toward the project, and with those donations, a parking lot currently sits between SH 130 and Innovation Boulevard, serving as the future site of the sports field project.

Coombs said at least $900,000 is needed to build the proposed fields, and in order to apply for funding through TPWD, the YMCA’s application must be supported by a joint partnership with the city.

The YMCA’s proposal to the council was that the city would manage the fields and pay for maintenance and upkeep, and the YMCA would sublease the fields from the city.

“I think, from an economic development standpoint, we’ve done great things with the city, and I think the city has been very, very gracious in working with the YMCA,” Coombs said. “We really feel this could help bring more children into the city, rather than leave the city, for sports.”

Coombs said the city is missing out on potential revenue streams. He said families travel to play sports—spending money on gas and meals—in areas outside of Hutto.

“We really have the same facilities today that we had 10 years ago,” Coombs said. “If you asked me at that point, ‘What would you have to do to double the size of our youth organization,’ I’d say, ‘You need more fields.’”

Coombs said the membership base of the Hutto YMCA has grown exponentially after two years in operation.

“The minute we opened the doors, we realized our facility was really built for about 2,000 members, and we already have more than that today. We started looking at the next things we need to do, and we actually had a group in the organization look at what is needed in the city of Hutto. One (idea) was really around youth sports, and the second was around a teen center and also a senior center,” Coombs said.

Hutto Mayor Debbie Holland said that although Coombs’ presentation stated the YMCA was not asking for money from the city, there would be costs associated with a proposed partnership.

“It wouldn’t be cost free, because they would be looking at us for field maintenance, so there really are some things that need to be vetted through the Parks Advisory Board,” Holland said. “I don’t think anybody is going to deny we need additional sports fields, but who’s going to do them is a decision for everyone to make.”

Holland said she has contacted City Manager Karen Daly for direction in getting the necessary groups together to start the discussion, as the deadline to apply for the grant is in October.

“There are a lot of outdoor sports that require fields. Honestly, I don’t think they can have too many fields here,” Holland said.

Coombs said future plans for the fields include lighting, a pavilion and something close to a world-class facility, and the cost of those plans could exceed $2 million.

Cori Risener, vice president of finance, development and marketing with the Greater Williamson County YMCA, said there is time to work with the city to determine the level of interest in entering a joint partnership.

“These fields are not just YMCA fields, they’re going to be community fields, just like everything else we do,” Risener said. “We appreciate the partnership we have with the city of Hutto. It’s incredible and great to be able to find new opportunities on both sides, and go to each other and say, ‘How can we do this together?’”