Construction underway at Pulaski County Sportsplex
DUBLIN, Va. — Renovations are underway at what will become one of the largest and most versatile indoor sports and event complexes in Virginia and the future hub for recreation, athletics, and entertainment in Pulaski County.
“This project represents a transformational investment by the Board of Supervisors in the health, recreation, and economic future of our county,” said Jonathan Sweet, Pulaski County administrator. “We are excited to see construction beginning and look forward to what this facility will mean for Pulaski County families, athletes, businesses, and the visitors it will bring from around the country.”
Built to meet the needs of both Pulaski County citizens and visitors, the Sportsplex will house youth sports, adult leagues, competitive tournaments, and a range of community and professional events throughout the year.
Located at 3994 Pepperell Way, the new 165,000-square-foot Sportsplex will offer high-quality multisport indoor courts, indoor turf fields, cardio and strength rooms, a golf institute, a
6,300-square-foot indoor playground, a full-service restaurant with catering, a one-fifth mile walking track, and much more.
“This is more than just a building,” said Shay Dunnigan, director of Pulaski County Parks and Recreation. “It’s a hub for connection, competition, and community. We are committed to creating a space that serves all ages and interests year-round.”
The Sportsplex will be managed by both Parks and Recreation and Sports and Entertainment with Parks and Recreation managing all community wellness initiatives at the facility, including recreational sports and programming, and Sports and Entertainment overseeing large-scale athletic tournaments and revenue-generating events to help cover the cost of operating the facility. Construction is expected to conclude in late summer or early fall 2026, with the building opening to the public shortly afterward.
“The dual-purpose approach that the county is taking with this building is a win-win for everyone”, said Tim Miller, executive director of Pulaski County Sports and Entertainment. “The
local community gets a world-class facility that might otherwise not be possible, and the region gets a state-of-the-art facility that can host major tournaments and events, while also contributing to the local economy.”
Pulaski County procured ZMM Architects and Engineers to serve as the project’s architectural and engineering firm. Over the past eight months, ZMM worked closely with county leaders to develop the renovation project and bring the vision of the Sportsplex to life through thoughtful design, planning, and collaboration.
The lowest of nine competitive bids came in under $13.5 million. The county let the contract with R.L. Price, and subsequently signed a value-engineered change-order lowering the cost by
$1.3 million for an adjusted construction renovation cost of $12.2 million. The county sold
$10.75 million in bonds on the open market. Additionally, the Board of Supervisors planned this project for numerous years and successfully saved and assigned $2.289 million for a total of
$13.039 million in funds available for this project and purpose.
For questions about local Sportsplex initiatives and other general inquiries, please contact Pulaski County Parks and Recreation by calling (540) 994-2587 or emailing sdunnigan@pulaskicounty.org.
For questions about nonlocal Sportsplex initiatives, contact the Pulaski County Sports and Entertainment Authority by calling (540) 994-2526 or emailing tmiller@pulaskicounty.org.
About Pulaski County Parks & Recreation:
Pulaski County Parks and Recreation enhances the community’s quality of life by providing safe, accessible, and inclusive parks, facilities, programs, clubs, and special events for all ages. The department manages parks, trails, and facilities, offering year-round activities that promote active lifestyles and community engagement. From youth sports and adult leagues to festivals, programs, and classes, Parks and Recreation is committed to creating opportunities that bring people together and strengthen our community.
About the Sports & Entertainment Authority:
The Pulaski County Sports & Entertainment Authority was created in 2024 in order to oversee a growing list of facilities, including Calfee Park, the Pulaski County Motorsports Park, and the new Sportsplex, and to establish the county as a premier destination for sports and entertainment, where world-class facilities, outdoor recreation and adventure, and rich history combine to help create memorable experiences that drive economic growth.
August 13, 2025 @ 11:33 am
It’ll be nice till town of pulaski gets pissed at the county and town residents will not be allowed to use it. Kinda like the large item dump site. Regardless of paying both taxes!
August 13, 2025 @ 3:20 pm
I know this a great opportunity for both the town and county of Pulaski to grow exponentially. Kudos to Parks & Rec and Entertainment. Count me in to be one of the first to become a member. Thank You for this wonderful Sports plex.
August 14, 2025 @ 10:01 am
Let me start by saying I hear a lot of cheerleading for the County to “grow, grow, grow!” Growth can be a good thing. It often creates opportunities for some, but often leaves others behind. You may disagree, but I for one don’t live here hoping that someday we look more like Fairfax County. Maybe there are some in leadership positions who hold that vision in their mind.
Regarding this initiative, the County has already ‘jumped off the cliff, so there’s no going back on the decision now. From that standpoint I sincerely hope it is highly successful and beneficial to the County.
On the other hand, I’m always skeptical about expansions in the role of government. Is this an appropriate function of local government I ask myself. Is it what I want my local government involved in? But since it’s being done at the local level, I have to assume it has the support of the majority of the local voters who have put the people in place who voted in favor of this project. We all had plenty of opportunities to compel them to hit the brakes. If it succeeds we can take some credit, and if it fails we can take the blame. And if my comments serve as a warning, I am way too late with them.
Once a community gets to a certain size, a case can be made that it is very logical for local government to handle certain functions. Public utilities and education are popular examples (but I can even imagine a scenario where those could be handled better at the private level, and in some cases they are.) Then there are other expansive functions that a government can choose to do, regardless of whether it should or shouldn’t. I struggle to find examples of governments running operations more effectively and efficiently than the private sector. But I can find plenty of examples of governments operating at a loss, particularly at the federal level, but sometimes even at the local level. Unlike when you and I conduct our lives in the red, all government ever has to do is raise taxes to cover its failings. Think of the mess in which the City of Radford find itself.
I can also think of many examples of outside businesses making huge investments in the New River Valley, only to then come to the conclusion years later that they overestimated the market. They shut it down, take their beating and leave the area. And chances are one more building sits vacant with a ‘for sale or lease’ sign on the front of it.
Imagine a time in 2027 or 2030, when we might come to the conclusion that the cost of the local government running this venue vastly exceeds the revenue from it. In other words it turns out it operates at a significant annual net loss because the promoters greatly exaggerated or overestimated the upside. I would’ve preferred an approach in which the local government facilitated a project that was funded and run by a private non-governmental entity. That entity would enjoy the spoils if it’s succeeds and eat the loss if it’s a loser.
I hope I am wrong. But in that scenario the County will still be way deeper in debt than it was before taking this on, with huge bonds to pay off.
Guess who eats the loss and is on the hook for the massive debt? It won’t be those that pushed it through, I assure you.
August 14, 2025 @ 3:16 pm
It sounds big and beautiful for those who will use it. But I wonder where all these people coming in to use it will eat! We have no nice, big restaurants in Pulaski – no Cracker B. or Pekings or other nice sit-down restaurants. We don’t even have a simple Burger King or Arby’s. And if they want a nice, affordable motel, where would that be? There’s no place to sleep – well maybe Dublin has a few. I love Pulaski, always have, but it makes me sad to look at our Main Street, and almost no businesses. I don’t know why they tore up those nice sidewalks we had on Main, or took down the antique lighting and cut down all the trees. Oh well. We still have the clock and the train! And I still love the place!
August 14, 2025 @ 6:15 pm
I think it is stupid they r doing this taxes is high enough now in this damn county. not counting high ass water bill it’s ridiculous what we pay.
August 15, 2025 @ 8:06 am
Pat Guthrie, you seem to be confused. This is located in the industrial park across from Pulaski High School. It’s not in the town of Pulaski. It’s basically in Dublin. There are two hotels, a burger king, and arbys, all 5 minutes away on Cleburne. The article also states the venue is supposed to have a full service restaurant as well. I am sure there will be a location upcharge for that. I do agree with you about the lack of sit down restaurants in the Pulaski/Dublin area.
August 15, 2025 @ 11:06 pm
All this seems like a great idea as long as its run better than some of the other activities around here. I dont think its any one person not pointing fingers at ppl will fix the things most parents and players see. I believe getting input of the experienced ppl on some sports would be added value especially in sports not football and with a complex of this magnitude. We really dont need another parent trying to coach a sport or run an activity just b/c their kid plays and be allowed to move up when their kid moves up in age. Most of us that grew up here seen how it was based on who your parents or even grandparents were and even how much money you have. There are still kids getting access to facilities and extra practices b/c of who their parents are. Coaches getting to stack teams b/c they coached them in travel ball.
Then you have Randolf Parks baseball/softball fields that are now locked to where you cant take your kids to get extra practice in. Those fields were always open to whoever wanted to use them now they are locked. Use to see baseball kids getting extra practices in, girls softball players getting extra practice in, mens softball getting to go get some bp in but nope not anymore cant do that b/c they are locked. Have to get in contact with rec dept to get some extra practice in on fields that shouldn’t be locked. Just not long ago a simple “game tonight” sign on the field stopped ppl from using that field. Seen a kid take a ball to the face off a bad hop at old dublin middle schools field b/c they were stuck practicing on that crap field which by the way use to be taken care of as well even after the school closed down. Then you have soccer games on the baseball/softball fields as if the county doesn’t have both old middle schools, dora highway, love & field and randolfs lower field instead they jack up the baseball/softball fields for soccer when there are other places for it. Those fields should be holding some epic baseball and softball tournaments especially being so close to WV, TN & NC plus the hotels and fast food restaurants but nope just some little ones here and there and a couple decent baseball tournaments. Then you have adult softball that has started to seem like a money grab, teams pay decent money to put a team together and then dont get to play all the games, season gets shorter and shorter and rules are non existent. We dont have fall league like blacksburg and christiansburg which makes no sense either when we could have a good place for it. Calfee had a coed fall season once but that was before pulaski got it.
Moral of this rant we also have other places that need help and some guidance as well. With this sports complex and some spit and shine to some of the other sports and fields Pulaski County could really be a focal point of anything sports related from southeast of TN, southern WV, northeast NC and southwest of Richmond.
August 20, 2025 @ 8:03 am
I’m delight to learn more about the Pulaski County Sportsplex & Expo Center. This will certainly offer a wonderful set of services to the citizens & will serve as an attraction to other people and businesses which consider locating here. Congrats to everyone involved in the development of this world-class project.