The group started because of concerns with size and sewage at the current concession stand.

She said community meetings started in September 2006, but fundraising didn’t begin until June. Including grant money and donations, the group has already raised more than $220,000 of the expected $600,000 to $700,000 total cost of the complex.

"It’s remarkable for a small community like this to come together to make this happen," Eggleston said.

The new sports complex will be located at the existing ball field in Scribner, but instead of just one field, there are plans to add two more. Along with the three fields, a walking trail and RV camping area will be built. The first phase of the project, a new concession stand with bathrooms and showers, is expected to be completed before next season.

"We thought it was going to be a three- to five-year process - just the fundraising," Eggleston said.

Now the goal to complete fundraising and complete the facility is about two years.

About $117,000 of the total raised so far has been from business and community donations, but she said the goal is to raise about $300,000 from the community with the rest of the funds coming from grant money.

"We’ve gone to the larger businesses, but haven’t even started with small businesses and individuals," Eggleston said.

Scribner Mayor Steve Swanson said at the ceremony that there were two things he saw in the large crowd gathered at the field despite the gloomy weather.

"The first is volunteerism. We’ve had a lot of people donate a lot of time," he said. "The other thing I see here today is generosity. Without generosity, our small communities just wouldn’t survive. It takes people’s generosity to really make this possible."

Joel Hunke, village chairman of Snyder, said his town is proud to support the sports complex.

"It will benefit us in many ways other than ball itself," he said. "It will guarantee a future of sports and fun."

Sen. Ray Janssen said he still remembers coming to Scribner to swim when he was young because it was the only town close to him that had a public pool.

"You could see at that time the city of Scribner had foresight of what it wanted to do for children and adults," Janssen said. "I am so fortunate to represent communities that have foresight - that want to grow. "You have to offer something to people so they want to move to smaller communities," he said. "My hat’s off to the communities of Scribner and Snyder to have the foresight for a project like this." Nebraska Sen. Ray Janssen speaks during the groundbreaking ceremony for the Scribner-Snyder Youth Sports Complex, Thursday morning, October 18. (Chris Bristol/Fremont Tribune)

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