HENDERSON, Ky. – A proposal made to the Henderson City Commission could give the Henderson Flash a home field of its own and a significant upgrade to the city-owned Park Field in Atkinson Park.
Clay Bolin, the owner of the Henderson Flash summer collegiate baseball team, made a presentation before the commission on Tuesday that included a proposed partnership between the organization and the city.
Bolin proposed a renovation to Park Field with costs estimated in the neighborhood of $84,000. The Flash and the city would share in the costs of the project with the city paying for the renovation up front. The Flash would then sign a long-term lease on the facility and pay back half of the cost of the renovations over the course of the lease.
“I think this a great opportunity for us to progress as an organization, and for the community to gain from the upgrade of the field,” Bolin said.
The Flash, which played its first three seasons at B.T. Wayne Field at Henderson County High School, would move into the Atkinson Park complex for the 2021 season under Bolin’s proposal.
Park Field, which hosted Babe Ruth Baseball’s Bambino World Series in 1994 and 1996, would need major improvements to bring it to the level of a college field, Bolin said.
“It’s not in the best of conditions. Not too long ago, it was immaculate,” Bolin said.
Nearly half of the cost of the project, more than $40,000, would be spent on improvements to the playing surface. Other improvements in the project would include the construction of new dugouts and bullpens as well as the purchase of new fences, a tarp and a scoreboard.
Though the commission took no action on the proposal, mayor Steve Austin and commissioners Austin Vowels and Brad Staton expressed interest in exploring the proposal.
“I don’t think anyone on our commission or in the recreation department wants Park Field to continue to deteriorate. To keep that from happening, consistent play and use of that field is very important. That hasn’t been the case in recent years,” Austin said.
“We have to recognize when we have things like the Henderson Flash in this community and what you all do for us. In return, a level of support should be expected from the commission. I’d be excited to support whatever we can do,” Staton said.
The improvements to Park Field would create opportunities for the facility beyond the Flash’s 22-game home schedule in June and July.
In conjunction with the proposed new sports complex to be built between Airline Road and the Audubon Parkway, Park Field could be used for travel ball tournaments.
“This is an opportunity for this field to get the face lift that it needs to work with that group to host tournaments,” Bolin said.
Bolin also mentioned that the field could be beneficial to the Henderson County High School team and could host college teams from northern states which could be seeking games in warmer climates in the early spring.
Currently, the field is used exclusively by the Henderson Babe Ruth League.
“We can’t make a commitment tonight, but we will work with our city manager and recreation director to see what our opportunities are and what our possibilities are,” Austin said.
The Flash, which began play in the 2017 season, won the Ohio Valley League’s Eastern Division title in 2019. The OVL, which recently announced the addition of a 10th team in Hendersonville, Tennessee, did not play in 2020 because of COVID-19.
More: OVL, Henderson Flash baseball canceled for 2020 season; vote to shut down league passes 5-4
"Flash" - Google News
August 27, 2020 at 01:56AM
https://ift.tt/31yDhSR
Significant renovations to Park Field proposed with Henderson Flash's move to city-owned park - The Gleaner
"Flash" - Google News
https://ift.tt/39L7UpV
Shoes Man Tutorial
Pos News Update
Meme Update
Korean Entertainment News
Japan News Update
Bagikan Berita Ini
0 Response to "Significant renovations to Park Field proposed with Henderson Flash's move to city-owned park - The Gleaner"
Post a Comment