Pittsburgh Riverhounds to build multifield sports complex in Westmoreland County

NORTH HUNTINGDON TOWNSHIP, Pa. — Young athletes in Westmoreland County could soon have a new place to play.

The Pittsburgh Riverhounds Soccer Club announced plans for a multi-sport facility in North Huntingdon Township on Thursday.

“I feel anything we can do to encourage our youth to be active is great. We’re like building a brand new park down here that we don’t have in the township or really anywhere in the county out here,” said Jason Atwood, the President of the North Huntingdon Board of Commissioners.

Atwood signed a preliminary letter of intent for the project Wednesday night.

The 42-acre complex will be built on Township property right off Route 30, along Public Works Drive.

The property is currently mostly undeveloped, other than a small public works facility.

Renderings show the sports complex is expected to have three outdoor fields as well as a 93,000 square foot multi-sport indoor facility.

“I’m excited for any new type of sports facility to come to North Huntingdon, especially something that has an indoor portion to it considering we don’t really have anything in this area that is indoor. We have to drive to Monroeville or Hempfield to get something like that,” said North Huntingdon parent Jack Fallon.

The complex will also have bleachers, a concession stand, and room for future growth.

Atwood says the Township would like to add a bike trail and possibly other facilities on the property for sports like basketball and pickleball.

“Eventually it will be more than just soccer. It will be a space that the community can use,” Atwood said.

In a statement, Riverhounds owner Tuffy Shallenberger said, “This is another major investment to grow soccer in Western Pennsylvania, and the development will also provide a boost to North Huntingdon and the surrounding communities.”

Atwood agrees.

“This is going to be a big draw,” Atwood said.  “This might be the centerpiece in revitalizing this while corridor of route 30 on this western side of our township here.”

There’s still no timetable for construction and all plans still need to go through the Township’s approval process, but Township leaders expect to see a lease agreement for the land within the next six months.Pittsburgh Riverhounds has plans for a new, multifield sports complex to be built in North Huntingdon Township, Westmoreland County, about 20 miles southeast of the Hounds’ Highmark Stadium home in Pittsburgh.

The new complex will expand the footprint for the Hounds and Hounds Academy while adding facilities that will support existing organizations and sports programming in the surrounding community, the organization said in a news release.

“After seeing the way things have thrived since the opening of the AHN Montour Sports Complex in Coraopolis, we couldn’t be more excited to be able to continue that growth with a new facility in North Huntingdon,” Riverhounds owner Tuffy Shallenberger said. “This is another major investment to grow soccer in Western Pennsylvania, and the development will also provide a boost to North Huntingdon and the surrounding communities. I want to thank the North Huntingdon Township Board of Commissioners for their support and for making it possible to get this project started.”

The planned development is on 42 acres just off U.S. Route 30, not far from the Norwin Town Square shopping center. When completed, the facility will include a full-size indoor field and multiple full-size outdoor fields suitable for soccer and other sports.

Other features will include parking for the indoor and outdoor fields, lights over the multiple turf fields, a concession stand and a limited amount of bleacher seating at each outdoor field.

“This new complex will give the Riverhounds and our Academy another top-class facility to compliment our existing homes in Connellsville, Coraopolis and at Highmark Stadium,” said Jeff Garner, Riverhounds president. “North Huntingdon will be a tremendous addition, and we’re eager to bring Riverhounds training and programming closer to so many people in that part of our region.”

For more information about the Riverhounds and Riverhounds Academy, visit www.riverhounds.com.

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