VIDALIA — Even though no dirt has been turned over for the new recreation complex in Concordia Parish, there are plans in the works for a multi-field facility.

Concordia Parish Recreation District No. 2 President Marc Archer said before construction and further planning can move forward, the district has to get back estimates on what the basic infrastructure costs will be.

“As soon as we get that, we are going to go forward and see what we can do,” Archer said.

But even before the cost estimates come in, the district does have some definite plans on paper.

“The only thing that we know for sure is a four-field complex for softball and a four-field complex for baseball,” Recreation Director Mike Bowlin said.

The complex will be built on a 50-acre spread of land near Walmart.

The recreation district owns 20 of those acres, and the City of Vidalia owns the other 30 and is leasing them to the district for 99 years.

A soccer field is likely in the plans as well.

“All you need for soccer fields is flat ground, and we have got plenty of that over there,” Bowlin said.

A walking track — which may take the form of a nature trail — will also likely be a part of the project.

“If nothing else, you can just encompass a walking track around the entire area,” Bowlin said.

But what else is to be added to the complex is ultimately up to the public — and when the district gets their cost estimates, they will have public meetings.

“We are going to have some public hearings, but we want to have all of our information in hand first,” Archer said.

“You don’t want to have a public hearing until you have something to tell the public.”

The idea for a new complex has been tossed around for approximately 10 years, Bowlin said.

“We were looking for land, and now we have got that,” he said.

The land the complex will be built on was sold at a price of $17,000 an acre earlier this year.

The City of Vidalia paid for the purchase with funds generated by a riverfront lease.

The recreation district is funded by a 3.89 mill tax.