A consolidation of the vacant land targeted for the proposed Project FastPitch softball complex in Newton has been approved by Newton’s Planning and Zoning Commission. The re-platting of the 59.91 acres is now headed to the January 20th Newton City Council agenda. Meanwhile, the Jasper County Board of Supervisors approved the Plat Name for the project during their regular meeting Tuesday.

Newton Economic Development Specialist Craig Armstrong has worked with the developers of the indoor/outdoor softball complex for about seven years, and anticipates them breaking ground around the middle of this year. The year-round facility is to be built directly north of Iowa Speedway and south of Interstate 80. The plans include a 300,000-square-foot enclosed building containing four NCAA regulation-sized softball fields, batting cages, meeting rooms, and a restaurant. Around that building will be twelve regulation-sized softball fields.