With the exception of going to a Grant High School football game, “there’s no reason for people to go into Del Paso Heights,” says Richard Dana, an economic director for the Sierra Health Foundation.

That soon could change: The city plans to grant more than $2 million renovate an existing baseball field in the north Sacramento neighborhood, and build two new diamonds in an adjacent lot. The new complex could host tournaments 35 days a year.

“Now, you have an attraction, a city destination, a regional destination that will bring buying power into this neighborhood,” said Dana, who formerly was executive director of the Mutual Assistance Network, the nonprofit that will oversee work on the fields.

Dana says youth baseball, softball recreation leagues and weekly tournaments could generate $350,000 a year, “With these tournaments, you're going to have income that then gets spent back into the neighborhood,” he said.

Across the street from the planned center, Burt Clemons, who raised his kids in Del Paso Heights, is helping clean up what remains of a homeless camp.

“The challenge is great but it sounds like the plan is worthy,” he said of the sports complex. “I'm excited about it, because we've got to do better with our young kids and give them an opportunity to do things that is going to change the culture." 

The complex, which would be built west and north of the Robertson Community Center on Norwood Avenue, would host games for kids ages 12 and under.

The Mutual Assistance Network is contributing $212,000 to the project. The site will be lease-free for 25 years, and the goal is to have all three fields ready to play by April of next year.

Correction: The story originally reported that Dana was executive director for MAN. He is the former ED.