The Prospect Meadows board of directors has scheduled two meetings to get the public's input on how the proposed 17-field baseball and softball complex in Linn County may be used.

The board also will share project details at the meetings.

The first meeting will be held on Thursday, July 19 at the Clarion Hotel on 33rd Avenue SW in Cedar Rapids from 6:30 p.m. to 8 p.m. The second meeting will be held on Wednesday, July 25 at the Longbranch Hotel on 90 Twixt Town Road NE in Cedar Rapids from 6:30 p.m. to 8 p.m.

The Prospect Meadows facility will be located northeast of Marion, just south of County Home Road and east of Highway 13. It will feature eight fields with 400-foot fences, eight fields with 300-foot fences and one Miracle Field, built especially for people for disabilities.

"There are more than 500 youth ball teams in the area, but only 50 public fields," said Jack Roeder, the president of Prospect Meadows. "It's a theme we hear often from people looking for places to play and practice. We want to hear from them."

Roeder expects more than 60,000 visitors from outside the area every year, filling 80,000 hotel rooms. More than 120,000 people are expected to visit the complex annually.

Prospect Meadows anticipates creating $25 million in direct spending each year, as well as 200 full-time and part-time jobs with an annual payroll of more than $500,000.

The complex is expected to cost $9.4 million and will be paid for through local and state funding, grants, private donations and loans. Once built, the complex will be self-sustained through operational income, according to Roeder.

A completion date for the complex has not been set.

Roeder can be reached at 319-213-1775 or 319-393-1684.