Marion County officials and community partners gathered on Wednesday to celebrate the official ribbon-cutting of the first high-performance synthetic turf fields at a public park in the county.
The upgraded “Advent Fields” are located at the Ocala Rotary Sportsplex at 5220 SE Maricamp Road.
While the 80-acre facility held a preliminary unveiling in December, the recent ceremony marked the formal completion of a project described by local leaders as a major milestone for regional athletics.
Ocala Mayor Ben Marciano, who participated in Wednesday’s festivities, praised the project as a significant investment in local recreation.
“This is a game changer for Marion County and for everyone who calls this area home,” Marciano stated, emphasizing that while the complex sits outside city limits, its impact on youth opportunity and community health will be felt across the entire region.
The county broke ground on the new fields at the sportsplex in March 2025.
The transition from natural grass to synthetic turf is expected to expand field availability, improve player safety, and establish the sportsplex as a premier destination for both youth leagues and major tournaments.
In addition to the high-performance turf, the master plan for the complex includes several other upgrades, such as a new pavilion, a paved parking lot, stadium bleachers with shade structures, and new LED field lighting.
Marion County officials previously estimated that the conversion would generate millions of dollars in economic impact by attracting large-scale sporting events to the area.
The project was made possible through a partnership with AdventHealth.
Established in 1997, the Rotary Sportsplex currently features 16 fields and serves as the home for the Ocala Rotary Sportsplex Baseball league and the Big Sun Soccer premier league.
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