Commission Pledges Support For BYAA Project

Crawford County commissioners on Tuesday pledged their support for the Bourbon Youth Athletic Association’s proposed sports complex and said they would help where they could.

A few years ago, the commission allowed BYAA to use some of their grant hours through the Meramec Regional Planning Commission. 

Commissioners said they would sign on to any letter of support sent to state and federal officials.

Roger Louderman and Chuck Ray addressed the commission on behalf of BYAA and gave an overview of the project.

Louderman and Ray said they are asking for help from the Army Corps of Engineers to move the project along. 

They are sending letters to the offices of Rep. Jason Chipman, who represents Crawford County in the Missouri House of Representatives, and Rep. Jason Smith, representative from Missouri’s 8th congressional district, seeking their support.

BYAA acquired the 40-acre property more than two years ago, which sits near the high school between Old Springfield Road and Interstate 44. 

BYAA bought the property from an anonymous seller. They used fundraisers and grants to raise money for the down payment.

They envision at least four baseball/softball fields, along with soccer fields, indoor facilities for baseball, basketball and volleyball and a track.

Louderman said they are still trying to determine the best way to design the ball fields. BYAA wants to host tournaments and he said they need more than two fields.