After several years of planning and development, most of the fields and facilities in the new Plainfield Youth Athletic Complex will be ready for use next year.

A large center phase of the 58-acre complex on the town’s west side is graded for soccer fields for younger players, and an entrance road has been built.

Next Monday, the Plainfield Town Council will open contractors’ bids for another large phase of the work, including more concession stands; scoring towers; restroom buildings; and soccer, football and baseball fields — all set to be finished by next fall.

The Plainfield Optimist Club is preparing to be one of the prime users of the complex and to move its youth sports programs next summer from their longtime home at Lovell Field.

Town officials and Optimist leaders are still planning and raising money for a baseball field designed for physically and mentally challenged youths and adults.

However, Plainfield Parks Director Clay Chafin said work on the whole project is progressing even as fundraising and the search for a sponsor continues.

“After three or four years, we’re ready to see the finish line and to get some activity and some kids playing on those fields,” he said.

“It has been a long time coming, but we’ll soon forget the work that made this happen and we’ll realize Plainfield has created one of the best youth sports facilities in the region.”

Although the project’s cost initially was estimated to be as high as $10 million, Chafin said it probably will end up closer to half that figure.

“Most of the bids have been lower than we expected because contractors have been anxious for the work,” he said. “We’ve also been able to save money by doing some of the work in-house, using employees of the town rather than hiring contractors.”

Companies also have donated services that have cut the construction costs.

Chafin said the Town Council is financing much of the sports park project, except for the contributions of materials and labor and some very large cash gifts.

The town is building the facility on state-owned land through a lease with the Indiana Department of Correction that charges a token cost for 30 years, with the option of a renewal for 30 more years.

The town also has signed agreements with Optimists and other organizations to schedule time to use the athletic fields.

Trucks are at work at the site along U.S. 40 and the west bank of White Lick Creek, hauling large piles of dirt to be spread and improve storm water drainage for the new football fields. Chafin said the donated dirt is from other town building projects, a new fire station under construction and the widening of Perry Road.

So far, Optimist Club President John Reel has presented two checks totaling $400,000 to the Town Council. The money included large gifts from Public Service Indiana and its retired president Al Barker.

For nearly five decades, Plainfield Optimists have run annual sports programs for hundreds of children. About 1,500 youngsters are expected to take part next year.

They have played on Lovell Field at Main Street and Dan Jones Road, which was land provided by then-Public Service Indiana, which is now Duke Energy. However, that site has been sold for development as a retail center, including a Meijer department store.

Meijer has delayed the store’s construction for about two years, and Optimists are seeking to use the site next spring.

“Our plans are not 100 percent for the move next year, but we’re told the smaller fields for recreational soccer and the smaller kids will be ready at the new sports complex in the spring,” said Optimist Club member Mike Woodward.

“The issue is whether the new football fields will be ready and the grass growing well enough to be playable next fall.”

If some fields aren’t ready for play next summer, Optimists hope to stay a little longer at Lovell Field or find temporary space in other parks.