Central Illinois Athletic Academy opened its doors Sunday to provide the Mahomet community, and surrounding areas, with an indoor practice facility.
Scotty Harvey, alongside business partners Jim and Kim Long transformed the north side of the old D&D Foods building at 201 N. Prairieview Rd. over the summer months with new walls, artificial grass and nets so baseball and softball teams can practice during the winter months.
“There are a lot of organizations who travel a long ways to hold practices in an indoor facility, mainly in the wintertime,” Harvey said.
Indoor facilities in Central Illinois are often utilized by one team or organization. Many Mahomet teams travel to Bloomington or Champaign to practice indoors.
The facility will soon expand to include indoor golf and soccer options in the currently vacant south two-thirds of the building.
“We decided we were going to open up a facility that’s not team specific,” Harvey said. “It’s going to be open to the public. It will give the community all sorts of opportunities for an indoor facility,” Harvey said.
Central Illinois Athletic Academy also hosts baseball and softball fundamentals instruction taught by certified baseball and softball instructor C.R. Black.
Harvey said class times and dates may be adjusted for student availability.
“Right now, we’re open to ideas on how it gets used,” he said. “We know what it’s main purpose is, but we’re not going to close the door on anything.”
The facility is currently available for team rentals. Family rentals will also be available, although a fee has not been set for this option.
Harvey said the finished space can be opened up as nets can be pushed back for an open area.
