Last week, representatives of America’s Park, a 25-field youth baseball complex planned on 111 acres off Rankinhill Road just west of Interstate 77 in Mooresville, said high hopes for opening in spring of next year have been grounded by paperwork and the general planning process pushing the proposed start-up date back to spring 2013.

Lou Presutti, a partner in the Mooresville project, announced at a press gathering that preliminary planning had taken longer than expected and that the decision was made to delay the opening for one year instead of rushing to meet the self-imposed summer 2012 goal.

Presutti, builder and operator of a similar but smaller facility in Cooperstown, N.Y., near the Baseball Hall of Fame, plans to close on the Iredell County property in the next few weeks and town officials said grants have been secured to finance the utilities service expansions needed to serve the development.

When built, America’s Park will be the largest youth baseball facility in the country. In addition to the 25 playing fields, including one grandstand-surrounded stadium field, the complex will feature residential cabins for visiting players, laundry and dining facilities and concession areas.

During the summer youth tournament season, the $20 million facility is expected to attract more than 19,000 players and coaches, along with parents and other supporters. America’s Park is expected to be a boon for the Lake Norman economy, generating between $30 and $35 million in revenue annually for the motels, restaurants and other businesses catering to park’s visitors.