Kids Inc. is seeking a final $5.5 million to break ground on the Rockrose Sports Complex.

As previously reported by the Globe-News, Kids. Inc began its $30 million Home Field Advantage Campaign funding the creation of the Rockrose Sports Park, including two phases separated into outdoor and indoor facilities. Since August 2022, the campaign has focused solely on fundraising for the outdoor complex, including space for numerous sports competitions and training to be held in Amarillo including, soccer, track, baseball, softball, volleyball, football, and more.

According to Kids Inc. President and CEO Jimmy Lackey, the campaign has raised $18.5 million and hopes to raise an additional $5.5 million to then qualify for a $1.5 million grant, equating their funds to $25.5 million and allowing the organization to break ground on the project.

“We want to get started, to help people to understand that this is real, that it has legs and that it is coming, and then we believe we will be able to raise the rest of it as we go and complete it. Our goal right now is to get to $24 million; then we will break ground,” Lackey said.

According to the president and CEO, they do not have a set timeline that they hope to raise the final $5.5 million in, but he said that “as soon as it hits the door, we will break ground.”

Lackey said that Kids Inc. will participate in this year’s Panhandle Gives campaign, occurring from Nov. 20 through Nov. 28, which will allow the organization to not only highlight the season of giving within the community, but will help to amplify the funds donated during that time.

Kids Inc. parent and donor Broc Carter spoke about the benefits the planned park will bring to his children as they age with their love for sports and the community.

“As a parent of kids who play in Kids Inc., I really appreciate what the organization has given to my kids, my two little girls that play soccer. It has been a really important skill that they have learned about teamwork and how to communicate with others and learning new skills, how to win and lose successfully,” Carter said.

“I think this new complex will be really important for my kids, because they will have a new space to play and potentially meet more kids and learn about new sports, and have a new, state-of-the-art, safe place with ample parking that parents will appreciate. I think it will be nice for the kids to be a part of a large group and see and feel what it is like to play sports in their own community. … But, it will also be great for the parents not having to travel as much for tournaments and for Amarillo as a whole, being able to bring people to our hotels and our restaurants, and spend those dollars we would have been spending (elsewhere), in our community,” Carter added.

Lackey said that with the state-of-the-art complex, a majority of the funding will benefit the parking lot, and the organization feels that the cost is necessary for parents and community members to be able to enjoy the games without worrying about where to park.

“Parking is critical, and if you look at the budget, that is the largest piece of the pie. But, we don’t want to build a state-of-the-art facility and people can’t enjoy the games because they can’t find a place to park,” Lackey said.

“This will create potential for sports in Amarillo, not only youth but adult sports. This also will give the opportunity to bring tournaments to town, which benefits the city. … This is a community project to benefit the community, and we are looking for that final $5.5 million to show what this facility could mean for Amarillo,” Lackey added.

For more information about the campaign, visit Kids Inc. online at https://www.kidsinc.org/complex .

To donate to the Rockrose Sports Park as a part of Panhandle Gives, go online to https://www.thepanhandlegives.org/ .