World’s largest Special Olympics facility nearing completion

BYRON TOWNSHIP, Mich. (WOOD) — Construction crews are nearing completion of the world’s largest Special Olympics facility right here in West Michigan.

The project, which has been in the works for nearly 5 years , is a $26 million transformation of the former South Christian High School campus on 68th Street in Cutlerville.

“For years, we have to go to other people’s field, other people’s soccer field, other people’s gyms, other people’s areas,” said Special Olympics athlete Max Erhardt.

Not only has Erhardt participated in sports for over 10 years, he was also part of the initial capital campaign for the facility and has helped throughout the construction process.

“I love getting hands-on and doing stuff. I’m not I’m not a desk office person. I like being in the community and the work,” Erhardt said.

He along with several other athletes, construction crews and organization leaders came together Thursday afternoon to celebrate the installation of the new turf, marking a major milestone for the organization.

“This is our biggest milestone in the project for the phase two outside work,” said Jan Beerthuis, Rockford Construction site superintendent. “It’s taken the most focus, obviously it’s the biggest part of this 10-acre site.”

Construction of the facility began in the fall of 2023. The first phase of construction included a 127,000-square-foot nonprofit hub for ten different organizations supporting those with physical and intellectual disabilities.

Phase two, which is currently underway, includes the outdoor sports complex with an eight-lane collegiate-level track, five natural grass soccer fields, three pickleball courts, a putting and chipping green, 10 bocce ball courts, an athlete promenade and an outdoor plaza.

Beerthuis has managed construction projects for more than 30 years, but said this project is like nothing he’s ever worked on before.

“This has been a great experience, No. 1, for our company. It’s an honor to be here,” he said. “I’ve heard of Special Olympics, but now I’m so involved, I’ve learned so much more about it and it’s just a great organization and I’m really honored to do it.”

Though he’s learned a lot throughout this process, he’s also become a teacher. That’s because Erhardt has taken a special liking to Beerthuis.

“I love working with Yan sometimes,” Erhardt joked. “But no, I love working with him a lot. He’s fun, creative, and he’s a hard worker.”

“(Erhardt) really took an interest,” Beerthuis said. “Every time he comes out, he makes sure he comes out and sees me and we continue to kind of show him what’s going on.”

The 24-year-old athlete was so inspired by the process, he now has a goal of working at the Unified Sports and Inclusion Center as a groundskeeper.

“You have joy working here, knowing you accomplish something and you’re completing something you want to work on for. Other places you don’t get that,” Erhardt said.

It’s a sense of accomplishment for Beeerthuis, too.

“A place like this is just unique. It’s not just a building,” he said. “I’ve built Target stores, law firms, different things and they’re all great in their own sense, but this one just has a long history building up to it. And this being the biggest Special Olympics facility in the world is just, I mean, it couldn’t be a bigger honor for me to do it. I’m super proud of it.”

Special Olympics Michigan President and CEO Tim Hileman said the goal of this facility is to showcase the talents and abilities of the athletes not just in the Special Olympics community, but the community as a whole.

“Our athletes deserve the best,” Hileman said. “(The community is) going to see the greatness of our athletes, they’re going to see these great fields and so just seeing this beautiful turf and seeing that logo really means something.”

With the turf laid, crews will now begin work on site grading, concrete, irrigation and landscaping. That work is expected to be complete by the end of August.

Project leaders are still looking to raise approximately $1.5 million to reach their fundraising goal. Anyone looking to offer financial support can donate $150 or $500 to have their name etched into a tribute brick or paver, respectively, that will be placed right at the entrance to the facility.

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