| Heath Pero installs an electrical box in the concessionstand at the west ball field at the Toy Atwood Baseball Complex. The concession stands at the complex are part of a project to improve the fields before the WBBA World Series in August. While contractors have completed specialized work on the project, much of the labor has been donated by volunteers and inmates, which has helped save costs. The east field has been in use since May. The west field should be mostly completed before a ribbon cutting on June 18, at 6 p.m. |
As improvements at the Toy Atwood Baseball Complex in north Price have exhausted the $120,000 budgeted by the Carbon County Recreation and Transportation Special Service District, project coordinators approached the board to request additional funding.
Improvements to the complex have been made in preparation for the Western Boys Baseball Association World Series this summer.
Many of the improvements have already been made and the amount budgeted is expected to cover the remaining portions of the project.
Brent VanSickle, a volunteer organizer involved with the project, gave an update to board members, outlining what has been completed and explaining the remaining portions of the project.
VanSickle said that the east field has been completed and the west field is mostly done.
The new improvements include dugouts at both fields and concession stands. In addition, crews have replaced sod and worked to improve the playing surface.
VanSickle, who also coaches for the WBBA, said the improvements should help coaches keep players more focused and improve the facilities for spectators.
VanSickle said, from his observation of other fields, the facilities at the Atwood complex are among of the better looking fields in the state.
After the project is completed, the complex will be among the premier ball parks in the region, added the WBBA coach
As the concessions stands have completed, Price city has made improvements to the water and sewer lines to accommodate the new facilities.
John Procarione, public works assistant for Price, said the city has also contributed to the project by improving parking on the west end of the fields.
Price city is now working to make additional parking north of the ball fields.
Procarione said the city has also poured concrete around the concession stands and replaced portions of concrete after sewer and water lines were dug up.
Local Boy Scout Jordan Losee proposed a service project for his Eagle award that would improve playground equipment at the complex.
Losee explained that he contacted GameTime, Price city’s supplier for playground equipment, about the purchase.
Losee said the company quoted him a price of $7,000 for a package that normally costs $11,420.
The local scout said the reduced price was because of Price city’s buying history with the company and the fact that the equipment was for an Eagle Scout project.
The combined cost of the remaining improvements and the playground equipment is expected to be approximately $22,000.
The special service district approved $25,000 in anticipation of unexpected expenses.
In an unrelated matter, representatives from Carbon Country Club requested funding for a new cart to pull some of the heavier equipment on the golf course.
The country club representatives explained that the cart will cost around $16,000.
However, the budget for the course from the special service district is $100,000 for the year and $83,000 has been used.
The purchase of the cart would exhaust the funds for this year.
Initially, board members verified the need for the cart.
The golf course already has a number of smaller carts for course maintenance and grounds keeping.
However, the smaller carts are not strong enough to tow the liquid fertilizer tanks and similar equipment.
Board members first explored expanding the budget for the golf course to cover the cost of the purchase, but later decided that other county departments could benefit form the cart.
Rather than having the country club purchase the new equipment, the special service district will fund the purchase of the cart by the county.
Tom King, head golf pro at the course also explained that the country club is behind on its budget and may need additional funding from the special service district to offset deficits at the end of the year. He explained that greens fees are down and that there are fewer people using the course than last year.
He added that one area where the course has seen increased numbers is the number of the users who are choosing to walk instead of take carts. King said he views that as more people getting better exercise. Cart rentals is not a source of revenue for the golf course, so the reduced usage does not impact the budget.
District board members urged King to let them know how much he anticipates the golf course will need in addition to the current budget, and that they would look at additional funding needs at the golf course as they arise.