Posted on May 25th, 2016

Florence Soccer Complex Groundbreaking Scheduled

The City of Florence will hold a groundbreaking ceremony for the soon to be constructed Florence Soccer Complex on a portion of the former Ed Young property located at 3677 W. Palmetto Street on Wednesday, May 18, 2016 at 3:00pm.

The planned facility will include an access road, storm water retention pond and 14 regulation size soccer fields, two of which will be lighted. Ten of the soccer fields will be laser graded with underdrain system and sod while four soccer fields will be graded and seeded for future play. Other amenities for the complex will include goals, benches, trash receptacles, signage and restrooms.

The City selected AECOM Engineering for the project’s design. A team of city staff, in conjunction with Florence Youth Soccer Association board members, worked with AECOM to design a facility that is both functional and aesthetically pleasing.

The Drs. Bruce & Lee Foundation has donated approximately 140 acres of property to the City for the construction of a soccer complex and has also agreed to contribute $6,000,000 toward design and construction. The City of Florence has allocated $395,000 for water, sewer and storm water utilities on the property and has also received a $50,000 grant from the South Carolina Parks, Recreation & Tourism Department to assist in the construction of the soccer complex. Florence County Capital Sales Tax II is providing funding in the amount of $1,040,000 for construction of an access road off U.S. Highway 76 into the soccer complex.

The construction of the soccer complex was publicly advertised and bids were received on February 2, 2016. A total of five bid proposals from qualified contractors were received.

After careful review and evaluation of the bid proposals, D&L Sitework, Inc. out of Conway, South Carolina was selected as the Contractor for the soccer complex project.

The new Florence Soccer Complex will be built on property formerly owned by Congressman Ed Young at the intersection of Interstate 95 and U.S. Highway 76. The purpose of the new facility is to accommodate the Florence Soccer Association and the city’s growing youth soccer program, as well as provide a sports venue to attract competitive tournament play in soccer and possibly lacrosse in the future.