News
In the News: Renovations coming along at Hal Kirby, Jr. field
Posted on January 21, 2017
Originally published in the Franklin Free Press.
Hal Kirby Jr. field is one of the more iconic places in Russellville and for many years it was alive with the sounds of children playing and adults applauding and cheering.
Unfortunately, in the summer of 2015, a flood washed away the field and damaged or destroyed most of the park. After that, the playful sounds that once surrounded the ballpark were absent.
Now, over a year and a half later, the noises that permeate the air at Hal Kirby Jr. field are of construction.
The city received a grant to rebuild the park a few months after the flooding but hit a number of roadblocks along the way. The obstacles standing in the way, such as costs and bidding, took months to resolve but eventually the rebuilding began.
“We’ve got the field sodded and the lights in place now,” said Russellville Park and Recreation Department director Chad Sears. “The press box and concession stand building is being built now. We’re making progress.”
The press box and concession stand broke ground in November and the field sodding was laid in December. Mother Nature has tried to stall the construction, but Sears said he is optimistic the fields will be ready for action soon.
“The weather and rain has slowed us down, but like I said, we’re making progress and we’ll keep progressing,” he said. “The fields should hopefully be ready this spring, in time for softball.”
The next step for Sears and the city is to have fencing put up. Once the fences are up, the crews can begin surfacing and lining the fields.
The only major layout difference the city is making will be the direction of the fields. In the past, both fields faced towards the creek that runs in front of the parking lot. Now, both fields will face out away from the press box.
“Other than the direction of the field, you won’t see much difference (in layout),” Sears said. “But believe me, it will be an upgraded Hal Kirby. Very upgraded.”
After the ballpark opens, Sears would like to see it celebrated.
“It would be nice to have a grand opening kind of thing where the community can come out and see the new park,” he said. “Maybe we can play a city council vs. parks department softball game or something like that. That’d be a fun way to open it up.”