News
In the News: Work could begin soon on flooded ballfields
Posted on January 27, 2016
Originally published in the Times Daily.
Mayor David Grissom said with any luck, work could begin on renovations to the Hal Kirby Jr. Ballpark within the next couple of months.
“We had wanted to have the ballfields ready to play on this spring and summer, but that’s not going to happen,” Grissom said. “Now, we’re hoping to get things moving as soon as we can, and have them finished and open by the fall.”
The ballfields, on Underwood Road, suffered flood damage in May. City officials said the fields were primarily used for T-ball games.
The fencing around the fields was washed out, the concession stand and bathrooms were under water, and the fields were submerged.
The council will be using a $250,000 grant from the Alabama Department of Economic and Community Affairs, combined with local money and in-kind work, to renovate the ballfields.
“The park and recreation people have cleaned it up, removed the debris and the old fencing, and have maintained the fields,” City Councilman William Nale said. “We just need to get started as soon as we can.”
During a recent meeting, council members selected Muscle Shoals engineer Brad Williams to design the ballfields and oversee the project.
Nale said officials with the Northwest Alabama Council of Local Governments have been assisting the council with the grant application.
Heath King, a NACOLG grant writer, has been working with the council on the project. He said the estimated cost of the project is $359,000.
He said the grant is for $250,000, and the city will be putting in $109,000 in cash and in-kind work.
King said once completed the fields should be more “user-friendly.”
“It will have a multi-use facility, which will include a bathroom, press box and concession stand,” King said. “And the facility will be in the middle of the ballfields, between the two fields.”
King said there also will be sidewalks around the fields, and everything will be handicapped accessible.
He said Williams will do the design on the project, which will be submitted to ADECA for final approval. He said once that is completed, work will begin.
“Those old ballfields have been a part of Russellville’s recreation for a long time,” City Councilman Gary Cummings said. “I played out there on them, and that was 50 years ago. I hate they got damaged like they did, but now we can make them even better for children to enjoy for years to come.”
The Russellville City Council has selected Muscle Shoals engineer Brad Williams to design plans for the Hal Kirby Jr. Ballfields and then oversee the project. The renovations are expected to cost $359,000, with $250,000 coming from a grant from the Alabama Department of Economic and Community Affairs and $109,000 from the city in cash and in-kind work. Officials hope the work can begin on the renovations within the next couple of months.