Build It and They Will Come: Ponderay’s Field of Dreams, Three Decades in the Making
In Ponderay, Idaho, a dream 30 years in the making has come to life. The Field of Dreams Recreation Complex is more than four turf fields—it’s the product of community persistence, public investment, and design that meets real needs.
From Grassroots to Groundbreaking
In 1993, local residents Mike Read and Floyd McGhee envisioned a shared space where children and families could gather for sports and connection. With support from volunteers and the North Idaho/Ponderay Youth Sports Association (NIPYSA), the first “Soccer Bowl” launched in 1995, attracting nearly 1,000 youth athletes. However, the lack of infrastructure earned the field its ironic nickname—the “Dust Bowl.”
For years, the dream was on pause. Then, in 2011, the City of Ponderay purchased the 50-acre site. The 2018 LOR Foundation grant helped fund the formal master plan, which was followed by voter-approved funding and a series of collaborative planning sessions.
Designing for Durability and Playability
Bernardo Wills helped guide the design, including the decision to use artificial turf—critical in a region that averages 61 inches of snow annually. Natural turf simply wasn’t sustainable, and water limitations made irrigation impossible. Turf allowed for early spring and late fall use, pre-striped game lines, and consistent, multi-sport programming.
Our team also employed cement-treated base (CTB) strategies to stabilize existing materials and fast-track construction despite North Idaho’s notoriously short building season.
A Community Catalyst
Phase I was completed in fall 2024 and includes four tournament-ready fields, lighting, ADA access, restrooms, parking, and walking paths. Already, these fields are fully booked most weekdays from March through October, offering a reliable training space long before grass fields can open.
The response has been overwhelmingly positive. Families now have a safe, accessible place to gather. Local sports teams gain consistent practice space. Ponderay has even been selected to host upcoming state tournaments—proof of the facility’s reach and reliability.
From Dream to Reality
The Field of Dreams isn’t just a win for Ponderay—it’s a model of how stalled ideas can be revived with the right design, strategy, and community support. For Bernardo Wills, it’s proof that architecture can do more than design places—it can help shape futures.
