ST. CHARLES, Mo. – A private company is purchasing the St. Charles Soccer Complex, which has been in use by families for decades.
Todd Reineke has spent a lot of time out here at the facility on Mueller Road.
“I used to play at this park when I was growing up. It holds a spot in my heart,” he said. “My kids played in this park. I used to coach them. It’s always been a part of the community.”
The St. Charles Youth Soccer Association holds games there every weekend. And that is not all. There is also the St. Louis Ramblers, a rugby club.
“Youth clinics, practices for the middle school and high school team, and then our men’s club, will play out here,” St. Louis Royal Ramblers coaching staff member Steve McKinstry said.
But this land will soon be under new ownership. St. Charles City Council voted to sell the park to Invesco Group LLC for $3 million.
Invesco Group says it will keep it as a soccer complex, with $20 million in upgrades including eight artificial turf fields, a goalie practice area, and an indoor complex. St. Charles Parks and Recreation Director Maralee Britton says it will be a big boost to the area.
“It’s really going to be something for the whole area quite honestly and I wouldn’t be surprised if we see businesses expand and new ones pop up,” she said.
Britton says the developer wants to continue a relationship with the organizations that currently use the park.
“We’ll look forward to that private entity if that works out or we’ll just continue on with our relationship with the St. Charles Parks Department and look for new opportunities,” McKinstry said.
Reineke though worries there was little room for public comment on this proposal. All in one ordinance, the city council deemed the land “surplus property” and then agreed to sell it.
Surplus property is a designation typically used with land that is not needed anymore, making it available for sale. Britton says the city has some assurances written into the $3 million sale.
The city can buy the property back if four turf soccer fields aren’t built within the next five years. The property also needs to be used for sports and recreation for at least 10 years. So, for now, the city will pocket the $3 million.
“Right now, we’re going to hold onto it because if we have to take a step back because it doesn’t work, we want to be prepared to do so,” Britton said.
Reineke worries about what happens after that 10 years is up.
“It could be used for anything, and I have a big fear that there won’t be anything here,” he said.
Britton says work on the turf fields is expected to begin as early as January and could be ready for play by fall 2025. Once the outdoor turf fields are ready, work will begin on the indoor complex.
