News
In the News: Renovations on flooded ballfield coming together
Posted on March 27, 2017
Originally published in the Franklin County Times.
It’s not unusual for members of the City Council to routinely drive by Hal Kirby Jr. Ballpark to see what has been done to the complex that was destroyed by 2015 flooding.
For more than a year, the only thing they saw was an empty field where ballfields used to be — no fencing, no concession stand.
Things have changed. Work is ongoing, and the complex is coming back to life.
“It’s rare when I don’t have someone come up and ask me about what’s happening at the Kirby fields,” Mayor David Grissom said. “There wasn’t a lot I could tell them. We were working on it, but it just took time to get things going.”
The ballfields, located on Underwood Road, sustained major damage from the floods. The fencing around the fields was washed out; the concession stand and bathrooms were underwater; and the dirt fields were washed away by the fast-moving floodwaters.
“Basically, we are starting all over,” said Councilman Gary Cummings.
He said the press box/concession building is nearing completion, and work is about to begin on the fields.
“It’s been a long time coming, but it sure is good to see,” Cummings said of the work.
Hovater Metal Works of Russellville has been hired to do the renovations at a cost of $299,943.
Eagle Fence of Moulton will be putting up fencing around the facility at the cost of $40,000, and the council approved a contract of $6,750 from Gault Signs of Russellville for signage at the park, which has been installed.
The council is using a $250,000 grant from the Alabama Department of Economic and Community Affairs, combined with local money and in-kind work.
Grissom said some of the work on the fields will be done by the city’s Street Department.
He recently met with Park and Recreation Department Director Chad Sears and the city’s street superintendent, Shannon Wilson, to discuss work on the fields.
“They’re ready to start shaping the fields and we’ll be getting the fencing up,” Grissom said.
Sears said the complex will contain fields for T-ball and girls softball. He said the leagues have been making do at other fields in the city for the last two years, and will continue to play at the Eastside and Tom Strange ballfields.
“Nothing has gone as fast we anyone had hoped,” the mayor said. “But things are finally on track, and the work can be finished soon.”
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