LEBANON, Tenn. (WKRN) — The state-of-the-art sports complex in Lebanon is expanding after the city council approved the purchase of more land earlier this week.

“When it comes to the complete complex, there’s nothing in Middle Tennessee like this,” Lebanon Mayor Rick Bell said.

At the Lebanon Sports Complex, you can find families enjoying the park, the greenways, and the soccer and football fields.

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“This is about people being able to get outside, all ages, walk, play, have picnics,” Bell said.

The first phase of the complex opened last fall to the public, and now the city is preparing to kick off the second phase.

“Phase two would be baseball fields, softball fields, but also they’re designed in a way where we can have tournaments here,” Bell said.

According to Bell, part of the goal for the Lebanon Sports Complex is to make it an economic engine for the city through tournaments. In fact, when Bell first became mayor, completing the complex was one of his top priorities.

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“The last time the City of Lebanon built a new youth athletic field was 2001, so 25 years later, this is really important for us to do… As our population grows, our youth population grows, our sports leagues are growing, and we need space. We need better fields,” Bell said.

Earlier this week, the Lebanon City Council authorized the purchase of more land, costing $160,000. The land will serve as an entry and exit point for visitors.

Even though Bell is also the city’s historian, he said investing in the future is just as important: “What this is about is about 75 years in the future. Generations that aren’t even born yet — that we will never meet — they will come out here, they will enjoy this space, they will play in this space.”

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