WACO, Texas (KWTX) - A new baseball and softball complex is coming to Waco, which right now is just 50 acres of woods right off of Gholson Road, just south of Chalk Bluff.
But local businessman Stuart Parsons says within the next year he will turn it into a luxury sports ranch that the whole community can enjoy for generations to come.
"I want it to be where the fields are used every single day… to make an impact," Parsons shared.
He says he's always loved how sports bring people together, having always been involved in the baseball and softball world, but especially now with both his kids playing.
"I guess where it started we donated the China Spring turf fields and named them after my mom, that inspired me to build a turf field at our ranch for the kids," Parsons explained.
Which then gave him the idea to build an entire complex right in the Heart of Texas. From there he says it only took a couple months to get things moving.
"Made a deal on the property this week, we're starting to clear out today, and before you know it we'll have fields," he shared.
The hope is to be having tournaments there this time next year. His plan is to build a total of six turf fields, three for baseball and three for softball.
"With that, I think that you know the experience of having a place where people can eat, congregate," Parsons said, "we want to make it where the whole family has something to do."
While they're still working out the details, Parsons says he wants to also build cabins for traveling teams, a splash pad, and even pickleball courts.
"We're going to a tournament this weekend at Rocker B up in Graford, and I plan on getting some more ideas," he explained.
But so far he says the response from the community has been amazing, with people already reaching out about wanting to be a part of this.
"It's overwhelming, I mean it really is," Parsons expressed, "I feel like you know I've been blessed to be able to do something like this."
But even once the Parsons Sports Ranch is open, Parsons says he hopes to continue to add to it, sharing that the sky is the limit.
But local businessman Stuart Parsons says within the next year he will turn it into a luxury sports ranch that the whole community can enjoy for generations to come.
"I want it to be where the fields are used every single day… to make an impact," Parsons shared.
He says he's always loved how sports bring people together, having always been involved in the baseball and softball world, but especially now with both his kids playing.
"I guess where it started we donated the China Spring turf fields and named them after my mom, that inspired me to build a turf field at our ranch for the kids," Parsons explained.
Which then gave him the idea to build an entire complex right in the Heart of Texas. From there he says it only took a couple months to get things moving.
"Made a deal on the property this week, we're starting to clear out today, and before you know it we'll have fields," he shared.
The hope is to be having tournaments there this time next year. His plan is to build a total of six turf fields, three for baseball and three for softball.
"With that, I think that you know the experience of having a place where people can eat, congregate," Parsons said, "we want to make it where the whole family has something to do."
While they're still working out the details, Parsons says he wants to also build cabins for traveling teams, a splash pad, and even pickleball courts.
"We're going to a tournament this weekend at Rocker B up in Graford, and I plan on getting some more ideas," he explained.
But so far he says the response from the community has been amazing, with people already reaching out about wanting to be a part of this.
"It's overwhelming, I mean it really is," Parsons expressed, "I feel like you know I've been blessed to be able to do something like this."
But even once the Parsons Sports Ranch is open, Parsons says he hopes to continue to add to it, sharing that the sky is the limit.
