Baseball/softball complex gets new look
Sports reporter
Take a quick look at the Marion baseball/softball complex this year, and everything may seem the same. Take a longer look, and it will be obvious they aren't.
Renovation projects were added to the complex that include new dugouts on "A" field, new benches on all four fields, handicap access paths, and a bunker to store field materials.
"It's all for the kids," Marion/USD 408 REC director Margo Yates said.
The money used to fund the projects came from the booster club, donations from both the City of Marion and Marion-Florence USD 408, and fund-raisers by the high school baseball teams.
Booster member Russ Cain wanted to stress the gratitude the REC has for people who donated money.
"We just wanted to say thanks to everyone who donated their money and time," he said. "Nothing would happen without them."
The concession stand is another way to help fund the projects. One hundred percent of the proceeds go toward the park. The board purchased a hot dog maker, nachos machine, and popcorn machine with booster money when it started three years ago with the idea to provide as much food as possible for people at the park.
"We've had a lot of compliments on the concession stand," Yates said.
Dugouts
The improvement to the dugout on "A" field has been needed for some time. Warrior teams were huddled together in the small area. Dugouts were enlarged because all of the high school players did not fit in the original dugouts, and a gate was added for easier access. Yates said eventually all four fields will have new bat and helmet racks in the dugouts.
Last year former Marion High School baseball coach Sean Spoonts held a fund-raising baseball clinic to generate some money for the project.
Along with the other donations, the clinic raised $1,500 to add new benches on all fields as well.
Cain said when all the initial talk of upkeep started the main priority was safety of the players. That meant finding the right equipment, and providing a safe place for players to be between innings.
"The dugouts are as good as we could have," he said.
Safety
While the park receives praise from out-of-town visitors all the time, safety is still the main issue.
With limited money, the board wanted to use it wisely. That's why safety caps were added to the top of the fences and plastic pads were added to cover the chain links, the dugouts were improved, and new, safer, catcher's equipment is on the horizon.
"Safe equipment is our first priority, then improvements," Cain said.
Yates stressed the fence safety issues because a men's softball player nearly lost an eye trying to make a catch.
That's why part of the money also was used to build a 20x20-foot concrete pad north of the concession stand for patrons in wheelchairs. They now have an easier pathway to get to the ball fields, instead of wheeling through rougher terrain.
"It's a good start," Cain said. "If we need to add some more, we can go north."
Cain and Yates both stressed upkeep of the park on a consistent basis is a must.
"We have to have that to keep it the way it is," Cain said.
