Longtime residents Ty and Betty Lockhart have donated the Heritage Park fields just west of Steamboat Springs to the Steamboat Soccer Club, fueling a $5 million capital campaign to create a vibrant, accessible sports complex for the Yampa Valley, according to a statement released by the club on Tuesday.

The donation secures a permanent home for the club after more than four decades of supporting local youth and adult athletes.

“The fields were managed as soccer fields by the city’s Parks Department for a long time. But about five years ago, the city stopped maintaining those fields and they fell into disrepair,” said Steamboat Soccer Club Board President Doug Klingemann in an interview with the newspaper on Monday. “So they’ve been sitting there for about five years unused.”

“We started conversations with Ty and, back in September, finally closed on the donation, and the land is now owned by the soccer club,” he added. 

The newly named Lockhart Fields site will undergo a comprehensive rehabilitation designed to create a year-round community hub for soccer and other field sports. Planned upgrades include the installation of two full-size artificial turf fields, stadium lighting and enhanced amenities such as parking, walkways, seating areas and storage facilities.

The planned improvements will expand field availability by up to 50%, extend the outdoor playing season by approximately 3.5 months from late winter through fall and are anticipated to serve over 1,500 local youth and adults per year. 

“Betty and I try to make a difference in the lives of children,” said Ty Lockhart, former coach and tournament director, in the statement. “Steamboat Soccer Club provides the sportsmanship, training, camaraderie and the joy of competing at an early age.”

“They are giving kids a lifelong skill,” Lockhart continued. “This project will also ensure a place for people of all ages to play for generations to come. Seeing this land come to life again is a dream come true.” 

The Lockharts’ donation, valued at approximately $1 million, forms the cornerstone of the club’s $5 million capital campaign, which aims to build a dedicated hub that will anchor soccer and field sports activities for Northwest Colorado residents and visitors alike.

In addition to the $1 million land donation, the club has already raised $250,000, putting the club currently one-quarter of the way toward its $5 million goal. 

Beyond recreational and competitive soccer programs for youth, the upgraded complex will host adult leagues, tournaments and camps — events expected to generate a significant boost to local tourism and the regional economy.

“This gift from the Lockhart family is nothing short of transformational,” said Steamboat Soccer Club Director Linda John in the statement. “For decades, our biggest challenge has been access to fields during shoulder seasons when snow makes grass fields unplayable.”

“Now, thanks to Ty and Betty’s generosity, we can build a home that brings our community together and keeps kids active, connected and inspired,” John added.

The Steamboat Soccer Club has a storied 45-year history in the valley, currently serving over 1,000 athletes annually with a wide range of programs for all ages and skill levels. 

“The big thing is that these fields will help alleviate the stress of and congestion of all the fields around Steamboat,” said Klingemann in the interview. “The fields in Steamboat are very busy and scheduled heavily, and having more fields will reduce the load.” 

In an interview, John said the effort is a “perfect example of Steamboat coming together” and creating a lasting community asset.

“What started as a dream for our club to give our players a year round place to play is now turning into something that will impact our community for decades,” John said.

All stated uses of the fields have been approved through the county’s Planned Unit Development process, according to Routt County Senior Planner Alan Goldich. 

For more information on the project or to donate to the capital campaign, visit Steamboat-Soccer.com/Lockhart-Fields.