By Cindy Hoffman, Staff Writer

(Jan. 11, 2024) The Berlin Town Council voted to have Mayor Zack Tyndall send a letter to Secretary Helene Grady of the Maryland Department of Budget and Management supporting Ocean City’s request for $1.2 million in state funding to perform a site assessment, preliminary design and cost estimates for a youth sports complex.

The cost of the first stage of the project is estimated at $1.5 million and Ocean City is set to contribute $300,000 to help fund the balance.

“The Maryland Stadium Authority recently completed an economic feasibility study for a sports complex in Worcester County,” the letter stated. “The study indicated that a sports complex near Ocean City with 8-10 multipurpose tournament quality outdoor fields and an indoor facility with 10 basketball courts/20 volleyball courts would create 720-860 new Maryland jobs. Additionally, the study showed that a facility of this size could produce $80-$95 million in state economic impact and $7-$8 million in state tax revenue.”

The facility is expected to cost in the range of $150 million.

Tyndall and council members Steve Green and Shaneka Nichols represent Berlin on a 31-member task force for the proposed a sports complex.

“The Town of Berlin believes a regional sports complex of this size will contribute positively to the local and state economy and further leverage Worcester County as a tourism destination in Maryland,” the letter said.