A subcontractor has resumed work to get an unusable 15-acre sports complex leased by the city of Durango at Fort Lewis College in shape for a fall opening.

“We haven’t set a date,” Cathy Metz, the city’s director of parks and recreation, said Tuesday. “But the earliest would be in the fall.”

At one time, the city expected the acreage, which can accommodate four full-sized soccer fields, would be ready in fall 2012. But when the grass failed to grow properly, officials discovered the surface contained too many rocks.

Now, as the weather warms, the subcontractor, American Civil Constructors, is seeding, aerating, fertilizing and adding soil amendments to the playing fields at the northeast corner of the campus.

Rocks discovered within 4 inches of the surface during the process will be removed, Metz said.

The general contractor on the $4.4 million project is FCI Constructors of Grand Junction.

Named the Smith Sports Complex after Duane Smith, FLC professor emeritus of history and former chairman of the city Parks and Recreation Advisory Board, the acreage can be configured for soccer, football, lacrosse and ultimate frisbee.

There is no fencing or backstops for softball or baseball.

Metz said the city lease with the college includes the existing softball complex and six tennis courts.

“We want to upgrade the softball complex,” she said. “We’ll work on lighting, restrooms and concession stands.”

The city also wants to upgrade the tennis courts, which currently are unusable, she said.

daler@durangoherald.com