The spanking new Prospect Meadows baseball and softball complex is set to open this May with eight regulation diamonds and the Miracle Field to serve the public.

In an exciting new development, the Metro Sports Report website will be there to cover Prospect Meadows every step of the way with stories and pictures at MetroSportsReport.com.

In fact, the coverage begins right now.

"We are delighted to be covering Prospect Meadows this year," said Jim Ecker, the Metro Sports Report president. "This incredible new facility will make an enormous impact on our community, and as baseball and softball fans ourselves we want to keep everyone informed about all the events and exciting new developments."

The official Opening Day Ceremonies have been set for Thursday, May 23 at Prospect Meadows, which is located on 128 acres at the juncture of Highway 13 and County Home Road, just north of Marion.

Phase I will include eight regulation diamonds and the Miracle Field for children with special needs. Phase II, scheduled for completion in a few years, will include eight smaller fields for youth baseball and softball.

A total of $11.75 million was raised from 2012 through 2018, according to the Prospect Meadows website, with $5.9 million from private donations and $5.85 from public donations.

Perfect Game USA, which grew from humble beginnings in Cedar Rapids in the 1990's into the premier amateur baseball scouting service in the country, will be the anchor tenant at Prospect Meadows with a commitment of bringing 1,000 teams to the facility on an annual basis for 15 years.

Many youth baseball groups will be staging their games and events at Prospect Meadows as well, fulfilling the board of directors' promise of making the facility available to local children.

Prospect Meadows expects to draw 60,000 visitors to Linn County on an annual basis, with a direct economic impact of approximately $20 million into the county each year.

The idea for building a world-class baseball and softball facility in Linn County began in 2010. A board of directors was named in 2011 and the project was granted 501C3 non-profit status.

The Linn County Board of Supervisors have granted Prospect Meadows a 95-year lease for the facility, which will take Prospect Meadows into the 22nd Century.

It's been nearly 10 years since the original idea was floated about the complex, and in less than four months all those years of planning and fundraising will come to fruition.

Starting now, the Metro Sports Report website will be there every step of the way.