The Prospect Meadows Ball Fields project has received $1.2 million in three major gifts from local companies, it was announced Thursday during a press conference at Veterans Memorial Stadium.

Perfect Game USA of Cedar Rapids has pledged $600,000, Hall & Hall Engineers of Hiawatha has pledged $400,000 and Transamerica of Cedar Rapids has pledged $300,000.

The Prospect Meadows group plans to build 17 fields on 121 acres of land in northeast Marion, at the intersection of Highway 13 and County Home Road.

They hope to break ground on the project this year and open the facility in 2016.

"That's our goal and I think we're well on our way to making them a reality," said Jack Roeder, the president of Prospect Meadows. "It's a project we're going to bring to fruition soon."

The Prospect Meadows group estimates the facility will have an annual economic impact of $25 million on the community by staging major tournaments as well as local leagues, teams and events. Perfect Game, a national scouting company, plans to stage events at the new facility.

Lon Olejniczak, a senior vice president at TransAmerica and a former star athlete at the University of Iowa, said Transamerica is proud to be a partner with Prospect Meadows. He cited quality of life issues and the value of youth sports.

Several speakers, including Olejniczak, noted the relative lack of youth baseball and softball facilities in the Cedar Rapids area compared to Des Moines.

"As the second largest city in the state, we need to give this to our community," he said.

The estimated cost of the project is $9.4 million. A total of $2,608,127 has been raised in private donations, with the gifts from Perfect Game, Hall & Hall and Transamerica representing approximately half that amount.

The group hopes to raise a total of $4.2 million in private donations and another $5.2 million in state funding, local funding and loans. The City of Marion has pledged $750,000 to the project.

Prospect Meadows plans to create 200 full-time and part-time jobs with an annual payroll of $500,000.

One of the 17 fields would be a "Miracle Field" for people of disabilities to use and enjoy. The facility also would have walking trails, a recreational lake, a flower garden, playground areas, concession stands and bleachers. Eight of the fields would have 380-foot fences and eight of the fields would have 300-foot fences.

Linn County has leased the 121 acres of land to Prospect Meadows for $1 a year for 95 years. Prospect Meadows Ball Fields is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization.

Tim Strellner, from the Strellner Agency, and Dick Meisterling, vice president for advancement at Coe College, are the campaign co-chairmen for Prospect Meadows.

Chicago Cubs outfielder Ryan Sweeney, from Cedar Rapids, and former Major League pitcher Cal Eldred, who grew up in Urbana, are the honorary co-chairmen.

The Prospect Meadows website is www.ProspectMeadows.com. The phone number is (319) 393-1684. Naming rights are available for various parts of the facility.