County park officials are in the middle of a $3 million enhancement of the Voice of America Park they said will pay dividends for the greater park system.

The first phase of constructing an athletic complex at the Voice of America Park — a more than 400-acre park in West Chester Twp. bordered by Liberty Way and Cox, Tylersville and Butler Warren roads — includes 22 multipurpose natural grass fields for use by local residents, and expected to play host to state and national tournaments, said Jonathan Granville, executive director of MetroParks of Butler County.

By September 2014, the 22 grass fields will be ready for recreation and sports such as football, soccer, cricket, field hockey.

“The Voice of America Park is important because the revenue over the years will help fund the entire park system,” Granville said.

Granville said preliminary construction on the athletic fields began in August. He said an initial nine fields are completed, and a final 13 under way now. The fields will include amenities such as score boards, irrigation improvements and trashcans.

To help finance the athletic fields, MetroParks has entered a partnership agreement with the Butler County Visitors Bureau to contribute $1 million during the next 10 years.

“We are pleased to collaborate with MetroParks on this project and excited about the economic benefit it will bring to Butler County,” said Mark Hecquet, executive director of Butler County Visitors Bureau.

The remaining $2 million for this phase of the project is from money set aside over the years by MetroParks from Local Government Funds, local levy support, and fees and charges from the parks.

“If we manage (the athletic complex) correctly it won’t only pay for itself but have spillover impact,” Granville said, amounting to $26 million in annual economic impact for Butler County through hosting tournaments and increased business activity at hotels and restaurants.

“This is not just to serve local needs but to take advantage of the site for regional tournament play and concerts,” Granville said. “It’s hard to find a better connected site between Cincinnati and Dayton.”

Granville said the VOA Park — located near Interstates 75, 71 and 275 — is less than a day’s drive from 65 percent of the U.S. population, according to the Butler County Visitors Bureau.

The next phases haven’t been set in stone yet, Granville said but are expected to include softball and baseball fields, a dog park expansion to include a swimming area, park shelters and picnic tables.

Granville said the Butler County Commissioners and Engineer’s Office have planned to construct by March 2013 a one-mile bike and pedestrian path along the park’s border on Butler Warren Road. The bike path will link up with the VOA Park’s existing 1.4-mile paved path.