sport
Dayton Invests $31 Million to Upgrade Kettering Fields and Day Air Ballpark
From $14 million in new fields and courts at Kettering Fields to a nearly $17 million renovation at Day Air Ballpark, the city is betting big on its sports infrastructure.
How we reported this
Construction crews are already on site at Kettering Fields Sports Complex, where the city has launched a multi-million dollar overhaul, the first phase of a two-part investment totaling $14 million, with each phase costing $7 million, according to city officials. The project, which began this year, is slated for completion by August 2026.
What’s coming to Kettering Fields
The upgrades at Kettering Fields include two new grass fields designed for soccer and lacrosse, six new pickleball courts, and replacement of the artificial turf on existing baseball and softball fields. The work is part of a broader push by Dayton to refresh aging public sports venues that serve thousands of local youth and adult athletes each year.
The investment comes as demand for playing surfaces continues to rise across the region. Pickleball, in particular, has seen explosive growth nationally, and Dayton is adding dedicated courts to meet that interest. Soccer and lacrosse fields are also in short supply during peak seasons, making the new grass fields a priority for local leagues.
Day Air Ballpark and other major projects
Just a few miles north, the Dayton Dragons have announced plans for a nearly $17 million renovation of Day Air Ballpark downtown. The work includes a new roof, HVAC systems, and plumbing upgrades. Construction is set to begin next spring and is expected to be completed by 2030, according to team officials cited in recent reports.
Beyond those two headline projects, Dayton Christian School in Misburg has started building a new $4 million athletic facility. The 10,500-square-foot multipurpose center will include a gym, chapel, theater, and training area, and is expected to open by the following summer.
The city's largest indoor sports venue remains the Dayton Sports Complex at 4801 Salem Ave., which spans more than 77,000 square feet. That facility hosts leagues for volleyball, tennis, indoor soccer, and pickleball, making it a year-round hub for players of all ages.
Together, these projects represent tens of millions in public and private investment aimed at keeping Dayton competitive as a destination for tournaments and recreational sport, a sector that continues to grow locally as families and athletes seek high-quality places to train and compete.