Oxford's mTrade Park Named 2025 USSSA Facility of the Year

mTrade Park has been named the 2025 USSSA Facility of the Year, a national honor that recognizes excellence among more than 1,200 sports facilities nationwide and signals increased visibility for Lafayette County's youth sports economy and community programs. The park was notified of the award in November by USSSA, the organization that sanctions many of the complex’s baseball tournaments.

The recognition is based on feedback from coaches, parents and players who use the facilities. Park Director Brad Freeman said the award reflects that community input. “Based upon that feedback, we came out on top,” Freeman said.

Spanning approximately 75 acres, mTrade Park functions as a major hub for youth and amateur athletics in Oxford and surrounding communities. The complex includes 14 baseball and fast-pitch softball fields with FieldTurf infields and lighting for night games, five full-size soccer fields that can be reconfigured for tournament play, and an indoor practice facility known as CageTime with batting cages and concessions. Additional amenities include a walking trail, spectator seating and multiple concession areas.

Those amenities translate into seasonal activity that supports local businesses and municipal programming. mTrade Park hosts baseball, softball and soccer tournaments from late winter through fall, drawing teams and visitors from across the Southeast. The influx of out-of-town families and teams supports hotels, restaurants and retail on tournament weekends, while municipal leagues and events use the space year-round. The park supports Oxford Park Commission leagues and community events such as Fourth of July fireworks, and the facility is transformed each holiday season for Holly Jolly Holidays.

Freeman credited park staff and city leadership for the achievement. “This isn’t something that could be done without my team,” Freeman said. “We also couldn’t get it done without the support of the mayor and Board of Aldermen.” Oxford Mayor Robyn Tannehill called the award national validation of local pride and effort. “We know we’re the best in Mississippi and in the region, but this is a vote of confidence and a recognition from people at the national level that y’all are killing it,” Tannehill told Freeman Tuesday during the Board of Aldermen regular meeting.

mTrade Park opened in 2009 as FNC Park and was renamed in 2020 following a naming rights partnership. For Lafayette County residents, the award underscores the intersection of public investment, youth health and local economic opportunity. Continued maintenance and programming at mTrade Park promise sustained access to physical activity for children and ongoing tourism dollars for Oxford, with city leaders and park staff positioned to build on this national recognition.