James City County Stadium
History of the James City County Stadium
1996 – The James City County Board of Supervisors purchase the Warhill Tract.
1999 – The District Sports Complex, now the Warhill Sports Complex, opens. The Williamsburg Indoor Sports Complex land lease is also created. While James City County built soccer and baseball fields along with concession and rest room facilities, the budget didn’t allow for an indoor facility. The County approached a local business already in the planning stages of developing a private indoor sports complex. The result was a unique partnership -- a privately developed indoor sports facility constructed in the center of the County’s 500-acre District Sports Complex.
The Williamsburg Indoor Sports Complex, also known as WISC, is a $5 million, 75,000-square foot facility that serves over 5,000 users weekly. As part of the partnership, James City County Parks and Recreation received a one-time $50,000 payment to its capital improvement fund, an annual lease payment of approximately $6,000 to the County, and – most importantly – an $11,500 yearly scholarship fund to provide programs and activities for youth who otherwise may never have participated.
2005 – County voters approve a $15 million bond referendum to continue 1993 Master Plan park improvement initiatives at four parks, including Warhill. Projects funded by the most recent bond include synthetic turf multipurpose fields with lights, a playground, extension of a paved multi-use trail, sidewalks and a service drive to connect with the new stadium. In addition, a 3.5 mile, ADA accessible multiuse trail, and three outdoor basketball courts have recently been constructed from previous CIP funds. The 3.5-mile multiuse trail is an innovative environmental project. The gravel trail was woven through mature forests with bridging over perennials, streams and placement of the trail that provides little evidence it is surrounded by subdivisions. The design also avoided steep slopes, and protected erodible soils, 100 year floodplains, dozens of wetlands, unique plant habitats and a prehistoric Indian camp. Parks and Recreation minimized the environmental impacts with alternative designs to reduce land disturbance. The trail will enable eight surrounding neighborhoods to be connected to the complex.
August 2007 - Six synthetic turf multiuse fields with lights and the stadium are scheduled for completion. The synthetic turf fields will provide increased space for practices and games, are more durable and can be used in all weather, thereby increasing play time while reducing routine and annual maintenance and associated costs. The 3,000-seat stadium will support football, soccer and field hockey games, championships and tournaments for three local high schools as well as a variety of community events. High school football games and practices will begin on the new fields in late summer. Already, community sports practice schedules are being completed for the entire year along with other school functions.
JCC Parks Facility Request Form