Leeds to bring sports park, hotels and retail near Buc-ee’s + The Shops of Grand River

The City of Leeds has approved an agreement to develop a regional sports park, hotel and retail off Exit 140 on I-20 near The Shops of Grand River Outlet Mall and Buc-ee’s.

Changing the face of Leeds

“I’m happy to report something that’s happened in the City of Leeds that’s going to change the face of Leeds.

This is something that we have been working on for years. It’s finally coming to fruition.

The partners are very close to the final document, but Leeds has signed its final document and this is going to remake the western side of our city.”

David Miller, Mayor, Leeds 

The new development will have the following amenities:

• Regional sports park drawing thousands of visitors to our city
• Hospitality components consisting of three new hotels with over 400 rooms
• A water feature called the Crystal Lagoon, featuring a beach and approximately three to four acres of lagoon
• A bridge that will open up thousands of acres for a master plan residential development
• Retail component that will be owned and marketed by the RSA (Retirement Systems of Alabama)

Leeds mayor development shares details with Bham Now

Miller described several of the projects in an email to Bham Now.

On the sports park, the city intends to build fields for soccer, lacrosse, softball and baseball—the complex aims to attract major tournaments and games of all kinds regionally and nationally.

“It will be the largest park of its type in Central Alabama.”

David Miller, Mayor, Leeds

Instead of building a standalone sports park, the Leeds development intends to build a bridge across the Cahaba River which will effectively connect the Shops at Grand River to the new hotels and other amenities.

“We’re going to have a bridge that spans the Cahaba River to give us access to this park that runs right by the Leeds Grand River outlet mall and will bring thousands and thousands of customers right past their door, so that will have a dramatic impact on the economy of our outlet mall as well.

On the western side of the properties, there’s a hundred acres that will be divided into a beautiful lagoon called the Crystal Lagoon. It will be several acres of a resort water, resort area that will provide a hotel, at least one, and all the amenities… you’ll think you’re in the Caribbean when you come to this!”

David Miller, Mayor, Leeds

Who made the project possible?

In a city news release, the mayor recognized the following groups and people who made the agreement possible.

• Leeds City Council 
• Leeds Economic Team, consisting of the mayor, Lee Barnes, Laura Barnes, Johnny Brunson, Scott Barnett, Brad Watson, Advisor Charlie Waldrep and partners 
• Jefferson County
• Sports Illustrated
• RSA (Retirement Systems of Alabama)
• USX (United States Steel)

Bass Pro Shop, Buc-ee’s, Shops of Grand River and more

“We’ve already got Bass Pro, we’ve got the Buc-ee’s and the outlet mall with over 70 shops.

Now you’re going to have this fabulous sports park, so yes, it will change the face of Leeds.

Revenue from this will be in the multi-millions of dollars and will provide the funds over a long period of time for the citizens of Leeds to get the type things they want to have without having to raise taxes.”

David Miller, Mayor, Leeds

Additional plans, details and announcements are expected to be released soon.

What do you think about this massive, transformative development happening in Leeds? Tell us your impressions on social media by tagging us in the comment section at @bhamnow!