Facility Friday: Negro League Renovation, Kentucky Baseball

Harris-Stowe State University and the St. Louis Cardinals on Tuesday broke ground on a $1.2 million renovation project that will include new baseball and softball fields at the former site of a Negro League ballpark. The renovation is partially funded by the Cardinals’ charitable arm, which has provided $1.1 million for the project. The softball and baseball facility is located at the university on the corner of Market Street and Compton Avenue in Midtown. The renovations of Stars Park will include new fields, dugouts, scoreboards, press boxes and seating that will accommodate 200 fans at the baseball field and 100 at the softball field. The university’s baseball and softball teams compete in the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA). St. Louis Business Journal

The St. Louis Cardinals, Cardinals Care and HSSU held a groundbreaking ceremony to mark the beginning of the $1.2 million Stars Park field renovation and construction project.

We’re excited to break ground, but we still need your support!
To donate, visit https://t.co/X25iqgdhVd pic.twitter.com/08wMT4da4o

— Harris-Stowe Univ (@HarrisStowe) July 14, 2020

Kentucky Proud Park, the home of University of Kentucky baseball, has been awarded LEED certification for its environmental performance and sustainable design. Kentucky Proud Park achieved LEED certification for implementing practical and measurable strategies and solutions aimed at achieving high performance in: sustainable site development, water savings, energy efficiency, materials selection and indoor environmental quality. Water saving efforts reduced annual potable water use by 30%. Energy consumption cost reductions are estimated to be 31.7% savings. Excellence in construction waste management resulted in diverting 75.56% of on-site generated construction waste from landfills. Recycled materials are used in 30.61% of the total building materials (by value) and 42.73% of the total building materials (by value) includes products and materials made and extracted within 500 miles of Kentucky Proud Park. University of Kentucky

Rachel Baker Field, home to the women’s lacrosse and field hockey teams of DuPont Manual High School, is now the first synthetic turf field in Jefferson County (Ky.) Public Schools. School officials joined parents of the field’s namesake today to cut the ribbon on the upgraded turf field, which has been a natural grass field since it was built in 2002. District officials said the turf field will increase the speed and overall quality of the game for the young women who will be playing there. The upgrade from grass to turf will also allow for fewer cancellations due to rain, and will provide for a more stable surface which will help prevent injuries. The project cost $866,000 in total. Funds for the new turf were raised through private donations. Jefferson County Public Schools

Manual Cuts Ribbon on First
Turf Field in JCPS

Rachel Baker Field, home to the women’s lacrosse and field hockey teams of duPont Manual High School, is now the first synthetic turf field in JCPS.

Click here to watch the WLKY story!https://t.co/Ok2O3niuNo

— duPont Manual PTSA (@ManualPTSA) July 15, 2020

One of the major construction projects being planned by the University of Wisconsin athletic department is temporarily on hold. Renovation of the seating section behind the south end zone at Camp Randall Stadium has been pushed back by a year, UW announced Thursday.The $77 million project that planned to transform rows of bleacher seating into indoor club spaces, small loge boxes and rows of chairback seating now is likely to start in 2021 and be ready for the 2022 season. Wisconsin State Journal

On July 15, town leaders in Lexington, Ky., officially marked the opening of the new track and field facility on Worthen Road. The project, a complete renovation of the town’s main outdoor area for recreation both organized and casual, has been in development since about 2013. It was finally approved at the 2018 Annual Town Meeting, where members overwhelmingly supported the plan. In total, the project cost about $3.2 million, Recreation and Community Programs Director Melissa Battite said. Most of the money came from the Community Preservation Act funds, except for the dollars needed for the synthetic turf field. The facility includes a new lighting system, infield, bleachers, and fencing. The area is frequently used by private residents, organized youth sports teams, and Lexington students. The field has been painted with lines for soccer, field hockey, and lacrosse. A new shot put circle and areas for triple jump and long jump were also added. Wicked Local Lexington

Lexington's new center track and field officially complete https://t.co/uCHYOPepQx

— WickedLocalLex (@WickedLocalLex) July 15, 2020