Lebanon Seeks Expansion of Sports Complex

City council authorizes engineering services for second phase of recreation facility

Published on Mar. 9, 2026

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The Lebanon City Council has authorized city leaders to seek engineering services for the second phase of the Lebanon Sports Complex. The first phase of the complex, which opened last September, included five soccer fields, a concession and restroom building, a playground, a walking trail, and a pavilion. The second phase will likely include four baseball fields and four softball fields, covering about 88 acres of the 154-acre property.

Why it matters

The expansion of the Lebanon Sports Complex is a response to the growing demand for youth sports facilities in the city. The number of children registered to play spring softball and baseball has ballooned from 600 in 2001 to an expected 1,800-2,000 in the next 3-5 years, highlighting the need for additional fields.

The details

The second phase of the complex will feature larger fields, about 400 feet from home plate to the center field fence, as well as smaller 250-foot fields that can be divided into two smaller fields. The expansion will cover about 88 acres of the 154-acre Lebanon Sports Complex property and operate in conjunction with the existing Baird Park, where Lebanon Youth Baseball and Softball games have been held for over seven decades.

  • The first phase of the Lebanon Sports Complex opened in September 2025.
  • The Lebanon City Council authorized the engineering services for the second phase during its March 3, 2026 meeting.

The players

Rick Bell

The mayor of Lebanon, Tennessee.

Lindsey Wolfenbarger

The finance director for the City of Lebanon.

Kristen Rice

The executive director of engineering and planning for the City of Lebanon.

William Porter

The recreation director for the City of Lebanon.

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What they’re saying

“It's safe to say we need some fields. That number is going to be 1,800-2,000 in 3-5 years easily.”

— William Porter, Recreation Director (mainstreetmediatn.com)

What’s next

The city will now advertise for proposals for engineering services to design the second phase of the Lebanon Sports Complex, which is expected to include four baseball fields and four softball fields.

The takeaway

The expansion of the Lebanon Sports Complex is a proactive move by the city to meet the growing demand for youth sports facilities, as the number of children registered to play spring softball and baseball has more than doubled in the past 25 years. This investment in community recreation infrastructure will help ensure Lebanon families have access to high-quality sports facilities for years to come.