Commissioners Approve Sugar Sand Softball Complex

Softball is coming to Sugar Sand Park.

At their most recent public meeting District Commissioners voted unanimously to allow the City of Boca Raton to construct a softball complex at District-owned Sugar Sand.

“I think it makes sense,” District chair Erin Wright said. “There's already baseball at Sugar Sand. We know the city is moving forward with their campus master plan. We're trying to help the city as best we can.”

City of Boca Raton officials are re-imagining the look of its aging downtown government campus, which includes city hall, the community center and the police station. The new master plan is expected to remove the two softball fields currently at Memorial Park, adjacent to the current city hall. Meadows Park may also lose its softball field because of the redevelopment project.

The new softball complex, intended primarily for youth sports, will be created on 11 acres in the undeveloped northwest corner of Sugar Sand.

“I trust the City and staff to take into consideration the environmental area that we have,” Commissioner Craig Ehrnst said. “I'm confident the city will do a careful assessment environmentally, ensuring that the softball fields and the natural environment can cohabitate nicely.”

Sugar Sand is already the site of six baseball fields, located in the northeast area of the park.

“You'll get all of the ball fields together,” Ehrnst said. “I hope that we can use some synergy of baseball and softball fields and batting cages for everyone and provide the community with softball equity.”

The new complex is expected to provide four fields for softball play. Additional parking, a concession area, walkways and restrooms will also be created.

The Boca Raton city council can officially approve the contract and move forward with design plans at their July meeting.

Opened in 1995, Sugar Sand Park offers the Boca Raton community many forms of recreation and entertainment, including a field house for basketball, volleyball and other indoor sports; a community center housing the Science Explorium, Willow Theatre and meeting rooms; walking trails; an acclaimed Science Playground; and a carousel. 

The softball project could be completed by the end of 2026.