Fast-pitch plans shared with Parks and Recreation Board

Talk about it

The Jamestown Parks and Recreation Board of Commissioners was updated on the latest plans to renovate a softball diamond to fast-pitch standards at its monthly meeting Monday.

Kevin Gall, Jamestown College softball coach, is leading the charge to convert either diamond 8 or 11 at McElroy Park.

Gall said he has met with JC and Jamestown Public School District officials to partner on the endeavor.

“The reason those entities are involved is to create, you could call it a feature field,” he said. “We can host tournaments and upgrade our facilities a little bit.”

“A little bit” could be considered a modest description as Gall said the project is expected to cost between $50,000 and $60,000. Both JPS and JC would use the facility and therefore be asked to pay part of the cost.

Upgrades would include a scoreboard, dugouts, foul poles and a moveable outfield fence.

“How I look at is, if you have a nicer field for the older girls, that gives the younger girls something to look forward to playing on,” he said.

Doug Hogan, Parks and Recreation director, said he would like to see all the softball fields relocated to Hillcrest Park and the soccer fields currently there relocated to Meidinger Park.

“If you’re going to stick a whole bunch of money into renovating — that’s wonderful,” said Larry Knoblich, Parks and Recreation Commission chair. “But then you’re going to have to kiss that soccer complex goodbye. I don’t really see spending a lot of money down here.”

Gall said he would like fast-pitch softball to have a top-notch facility similar to Jamestown’s Jack Brown Stadium.

Jack Brown Stadium was also discussed at Monday’s meeting.

The board said it would start to accept bids to install new sinks, toilets and water heaters for the bathrooms at the stadium.

“As someone once said, Satchel Paige used the one bathroom....” Knoblich said, referring to a professional baseball player who died in 1982. “I think we ought to set some money aside for that.”

The board also agreed to raise prices by $10 for season memberships and golf cart storage at Hillcrest Municipal Golf Course.

It kept the fees at Jamestown Municipal Pool the same.

Sun reporter Ben Rodgers can be reached at 701-952-8455 or by email at brodgers@jamestownsun.com

Tags: local news, news, recreation