MARION – The City of Marion along with the Williamson County Board of Commissioners recently approved an Intergovernmental Agreement between the two parties as well as a Public Private Partnership Agreement with Oasis Sports for a new multi-use, all-turf sports complex to be located behind the old Illinois Star Centre Mall in Marion.

The agreement was reached during a joint Marion City Council/Williamson County Board of Commissioners meeting on April 24. It paves the way for the development of a long-planned $30 million sports complex with modular accommodations for baseball, softball, and soccer.

City and County leaders agreed to a funding model that utilizes hotel tax, in part, to fund the development of the complex. Funding for the project will be provided by a partnership of local banks led by First Southern Bank, Banterra Bank, Legence Bank, and Southern Trust Bank. The operations of the complex will be administered by Oasis Sports, a subsidiary company of the Oasis family of businesses.

The facility is expected to be completed in spring 2025.