Published: October 22, 2025
Estimated reading time: 3 minutes
The Norton Healthcare Sports & Learning Center campus has announced construction of multipurpose athletic fields that will be built on the corner of 30th Street and Muhammad Ali Boulevard, creating safe, dedicated space for athletic activities.
We’re pleased to extend our support, pledging $1 million in matching community benefit contributions toward the $3.5 million project.
Team sports foster social connections, teamwork and a sense of belonging, which are vital for mental health. This project will increase access to organized sports, improve health and well-being, and bring additional economic benefits to the area.
“Access to athletic fields like these is essential for kids, both physically and mentally,” said Russell F. Cox, president and CEO, Norton Healthcare. “Athletic fields encourage physical activity, which helps prevent chronic conditions, like diabetes and heart disease.”
According to the Office of Disease Prevention and Health Promotion, part of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, research has shown that kids involved in sports have better physical health and can have higher self-esteem, better mental health, stronger life and social skills and improved concentration, which benefits them in the classroom.
“As the region’s largest health care provider, we are committed to the health and wellness of West Louisville and the entire community,” Russ said. “We know safe recreational spaces are good for kids and good for families. We are honored to support this initiative and hope others will join us in supporting kids’ health.”
The new fields will be built on empty space adjacent to the Norton Healthcare Sports & Learning Center and will include four youth-sized or two adult-sized fields. Construction can begin once at least $2 million in total is raised. The goal is to have the fields open before summer 2026.
“Very early on the community realized that the green space in the center of the outdoor track could work for flag football or soccer. Eventually, we followed their lead and added soccer goals. What we couldn’t have anticipated was the demand. West Louisville Soccer now has six soccer teams that call this facility home. Unfortunately, the green space of a track is not graded for soccer or flag football, and the overuse of the field created a safety hazard. This meant the soccer teams had to relocate. We are building these fields so our teams can come home,” said Sadiqa Reynolds, founder and president of the Norton Healthcare Sports & Learning Center.
Since it opened in February 2021, more than half a million people have engaged in activity at the Norton Healthcare Sports & Learning Center, generating an estimated $40 million in economic impact for the local economy. That impact has come from hosting national, regional and local track events for college, high school and even middle and elementary school runners. The sports complex also has hosted more than 20 collegiate indoor track and field conference events and championships, a U.S. Trampoline & Tumbling Association championship, gymnastics events, wrestling championships and even a regional Corvette car show.
The center also has served as a hub for community engagement, hosting events such as the Jefferson County Public Schools Showcase of Schools and wellness days, along with educational programming ranging from academics to learning to play pickleball, and field sports on the infield of the outdoor track. “The opportunities for these multipurpose fields are endless,” Sadiqa said. “Norton Healthcare has already been an amazing partner, and we are so grateful that they continue to run with us on this transformational journey. We are in the business of creating opportunities for excellence for our kids and their families.”