BY SARAH STEPHENS
ELMORE AUTAUGA NEWS
See more photos below. Many photos are courtesy of Elmore County Commission and partners.
Wednesday morning a big crowd gathered with excitement for a walk through the 17 Springs construction site in Millbrook. It included representatives of all partners and local media.
A dream that began with real discussions in 2019, has already seen reality with the completion of Phase I, and Phase II is expected to be complete by January 2025.
Phase I is already an extremely popular and well-visited area, with tennis, soccer and pickleball courts staying busy. It isn’t just area residents enjoying the activities, but multiple tournaments have already taken place in the first year of operation.
Only recently has the construction of Phase II gone vertical, and the progress can be seen by passersby along Hwy. 14. A lot of dirt has been moved as the Marketplace of 17 Springs construction is also in full swing.
The 86,000 square foot Field House is building skyward. Once complete, it will offer a tremendous amount of indoor and outdoor activities. There will be an area for concert venues, a large press box, giant screens for easier viewing, concessions, plenty of restrooms, meeting rooms and lobby space. It could easily accommodate corporate events and will have a prep kitchen.
There are places for food trucks aisles as well.
The professional quality football field will be surrounded by a championship track and field center.
The total cost of the project from start to finish, including land acquisition and in-kind donations, is projected to be $100 million. One of the unique aspects of this giant endeavor is a partnership between five entities. They are the City of Millbrook, the Elmore County Commission, the Greater Montgomery YMCA, Elmore County Schools and the Elmore County Economic Development Authority.
Several times, officials used the term “economic engine” to refer to the overall project. Already, Phase I is making an economic impact as people are traveling to Elmore County to take advantage of the facilities. They are staying in area hotels, shopping locally and eating at area restaurants.
Officials said this event center will be an economic benefit across Elmore and Autauga counties, and they hope to partner with various cities throughout the area on future tournaments and events.
“In truth, it is a game changer for central Alabama, as there is another option for large events,” Millbrook Mayor Al Kelley said.
As the tour moved along, Mayor Kelley was smiling broadly.
“In the beginning, it was so hard to really understand what was about to happen,” he said. “This is just an incredible thing for our entire area. And not only for the Millbrook residents, but people are already traveling from other states to take part in activities. Everyone will benefit from this.”
17 Springs takes its name from a former Art Festival that was held on the grounds of the current Grandview Family YMCA. There are, in fact, many springs that feed into the area. That was taken into account when it came to construction, and drainage was a big part of the early build.
This is especially important when it comes to the various fields, as potential flooding was addressed with increased drainage capabilities.
Millbrook’s Project Manager Stuart Peters said, “These fields will drain. The only thing that will stop us now is lightning, because we have to stop games for that.”
Within phase two are multiple diamond fields complete with inside fences. This area includes restrooms and concession buildings which are still under construction. A breakdown of the different facets of the entire Phase II is below.
As the crowd moved through the Field House construction, down to the basement, they could see the locker rooms coming together, and listen to different officials explain how all of the spaces can be used for many purposes.
Stanhope Elmore Principal Ewell Fuller and Athletic Director Hunter Adams were excited to see the progress, and both said they are extremely excited about what this means for the future of SEHS sports. They are both dreaming of the day the SEHS football team runs through a tunnel out on to the football field the first time.
When this project was first discussed there were plenty of critics. Officials present said that slowly, those critics are rethinking their opinions. While some critics boldly said 17 Springs was simply a political promise and a farce, the reality of just how big and important this project really is has brought loads of interest. The phones are ringing daily with inquiries.
That interest is coming in the form of businesses who want to sponsor events, developers who are interested in restaurants, hotels and other retail centers in close proximity. The Marketplace of 17 Springs is beginning to take shape, and will bring restaurants, a hotel and much more when complete.
Elmore County Commission Chairman Bart Mercer said the creation of this partnership has truly been a dream team, and all are working together for the betterment of communities across the area. He said by all of the agencies working together, they are building for the future of the entire county.
Millbrook City Council President Michael Gay said he expects 17 Springs to bring an influx of new interest into Elmore County overall and is very excited about what is to come.
“Just look around and see what is being constructed right here, and just down the road already. Yes, things are going to change, but good things are happening,” he said.
17 Springs Phase II Overview
Construction of Phase II began in June 2023 and will include an 86,000 square foot indoor event venue, another multipurpose turf field located inside a stadium, a competition track with field events, and six (6) diamond fields for softball and baseball use with restroom and concessions buildings. Phase II construction is slated to be completed in January 2025.
Construction progress:
· Six (6) diamond fields are complete (inside the fences). The visitor/ diamond field’s restrooms/ concessions buildings are still under construction. The landscaping around the fields and buildings is still taking shape.
· The drainage/ grading in the stadium at the Fieldhouse is still ongoing with the field perimeter curb to be installed in the next few weeks. The home and visitor side bleachers have been installed. Once the competition track installation begins, it will take approximately 35 days to complete.
· The construction of the Fieldhouse is underway. The basement is intact and the steel framework is being erected in the main building.
· The road infrastructure and parking lots are being constructed with county forces and construction is ongoing as site work continues onsite between Phase II and the Marketplace
· The Marketplace at 17 Springs contractor is onsite and construction is ongoing
Facts about 17 Springs Phase II:
Ballfields – 6 total – 210’ RT & LT with 225’ centerfield – for youth baseball 12 and under and all ages of softball (up to collegiate)
Ballfield restrooms – men’s 11 & women’s 20
Fieldhouse restrooms – men’s 30 & women’s 61
Parking lots (base bid) 635 total – 619 regular & 16 handicap
Food truck – 11 spaces
Fieldhouse Square Footage:
Basement – 10,653 GSF (includes tunnels)
Main level – 69,276 GSF (excludes overhangs, canopies and carports)
Mezzanine – 6,395 GSF
Total – 86,324 GSF
Locker room – 4,178 NSF Visitor Concessions
Event Space – 40,436 NSF Total – 2,748 GSF
Multipurpose Room – 1,392 NSF
Lobby Area – 4,933 NSF Restroom Building at Diamond Fields
Concessions – 760 NSF Total – 687 GSF
Administrative Space – 1,286 NSF
Press Box – 2,248 GSF
More Information Related to 17 Springs:
The construction of 17 Springs Phase I complex was completed in August 2023 and is home to “The Fields at 17 Springs” which includes four (4) multipurpose turf fields, one (1) grass field, twelve (12) tennis courts, and twelve (12) pickle ball courts. The adjacent commercial areas planned as a dining, hospitality, shopping and entertainment district carries the name “The Marketplace at 17 Springs”. The construction of this phase began in April 2024 and is slated to be complete in October 2024. The Marketplace consists of 14 lots covering some 18 acres.
To keep up with the ever-changing landscape, you can visit 17springs.com or follow their Facebook page. We will also continue to cover the progress of this amazing facility and what it means to our area.
