The City of Fernandina Beach currently operates the Ybor Alvarez Sports Complex (YASC) located at 3243 Bailey Road, Fernandina Beach, FL. The YASC currently provides three lighted adult softball fields, with covered dugouts and protective pitching screens on each of these fields; one youth softball/baseball practice field; a restroom building; open green space utilized for soccer activities with two adult-sized areas that are lighted with LED sports lighting; a soccer rebound wall; concessions building with restrooms, and shaded concessions area. The property located at 3243 Bailey Road is currently controlled by the Fernandina Beach Municipal Airport where a potentially new aviation-based business/user that may occupy the space. In order to ensure the soccer fields will not be displaced in the near future by another aviation user, the City of Fernandina wishes to purchase a portion of the current YASC at a cost of $3.4 million.
At the 2024 Winter Strategic Planning Sessions, Nassau County discussed the potential partnership between Nassau County and the City of Fernandina Beach to contribute $1.7 million, allocated in the 2023-2024 BOCC Annual Budget, towards to purchase a portion of the current YASC and develop the park. Nassau County’s focus is to maintain the current capacities of the recreation systems within Nassau County. Although the County cannot provide funds for maintenance of existing facilities, we may provide funding to maintain and increase capacity of the County-wide recreation system which is inclusive of national, state, county, and municipal facilities and programs. By contributing funds to redevelop the park, Nassau County and the City of Fernandina Beach agree there will be no variance of usage fees, "City" vs "County" resident.
On September 3, 2024, the City of Fernandina Beach approved Resolution 2024-162, which approved an Interlocal Agreement with the Nassau County Board of County Commissioners for a land purchase at the City Airport and redevelopment of the Ybor Alvarez Sports Complex. |