Ephrata Sports Complex construction to begin today

EPHRATA — Construction on the Sports Complex Addition Project begins Monday, bringing temporary closures, a partial dog park shutdown and the start of a major, multi‑phase renovation expected to reshape one of the city’s busiest recreation hubs, Parks and Recreation Director Josh Johnson said.  

Closures begin today  

The City of Ephrata will close the skate park, restrooms and the entire east side of the Sports Complex for roughly two months while crews begin phase one of construction. The large dog park will also be closed for safety. 

“As construction begins, our top priority is making sure the area remains as safe as possible for the public while still maintaining access to the dog park during this transition,” Johnson said. 

Only the south section of the dog park will remain open, accessible through a side gate on Lee Street SE. The gate is not a controlled pet entrance, and visitors are asked to close it behind them. There will be no separation between small and large dogs during this period. 

Dog park relocation underway 

The large‑dog area will close permanently Monday as the city begins relocating the dog park to Lee Park. Tommer Construction will remove fencing and prepare the Lee Park space, which Johnson said will be “cleaned up and improved to create a more attractive and functional space for dogs to run and play.” 

Johnson said the move also frees up field space at the Sports Complex. 

“We wanted to make sure the sports complex as a whole is used for its primary purpose, which is to hold field sports, tournaments and rec programs,” he said. 

The relocation is expected to be completed by early summer. 

New amenities coming 

Phase one of the project includes groundwork for several new features including six pickleball courts, a futsal and basketball court, an overhead shelter and an 80‑vehicle parking lot.  

The first phase is expected to run through late May, possibly into June, depending on contractor schedules. After concrete cures, the city will move into phase two, which may include professionally surfacing the pickleball courts and installing the futsal/basketball court. 

Funding for the next steps depends partly on whether the city can access an early installment of its $400,000 Paul Lauzier Foundation commitment and how the $184,000 Recreation and Conservation grant application plays out, Johnson said.  

The entire Sports Complex renovation is anticipated to be complete by spring 2027, though city officials hope to open facilities for public use during inactive construction periods – possibly as early as August. 

Johnson said he’s most excited about bringing new recreation opportunities to Ephrata, including pickleball tournaments, futsal leagues and expanded youth and adult programming. 

“It just opens up a giant (list) of opportunities… whether we want to do farmers markets, car shows or things like that,” he said.  

Safety and access 

Throughout construction, Johnson said the city is committed to keeping the area safe while maintaining dog park access as much as possible. 

“We really want to make sure the area is kept safe, while also, still giving the option for folks that use the dog park on a regular basis to still be able to use it,” he said. 

The city will provide updates as construction progresses. 

    The City of Ephrata will begin construction on the Sports Complex Monday, which will result in the closure of the large dog park. The small dogs park will remain open during construction with no separation of small and large dogs for the time being.