The Bowling Green Pee Wee League’s Carter Park facility will be receiving a facelift during the next
three years.
The summer youth baseball program is finalizing plans for a three-phase renovation of Diamond 4, and its
concession stand and restroom areas.
Work on the first phase is scheduled to begin Aug. 1, and will include new dugouts and backstop on
Diamond 4.
The current fence that serves as the backstop will be replaced with netting and padded brick backstop. It
will be similar to the backstop at Bowling Green High School.
The new dugouts will be 17 feet longer because the original dugouts weren’t built big enough to house the
team’s 15- to 18-year-olds which use them and their equipment. Teams often are crowded into those
dugouts. The drainage also will be upgraded.
The cost of the first phase is approximately $74,000. Most of the work on the first phase is expected to
be completed this fall and the project should be finished by May 1.
The league has raised about $39,000 and will contribute at least $15,000 from its own general fund.
All three phases are being funded through private donations to the league’s Carter Park Dreams Project.
The dreams project is separate from the league’s regular operating budget.
The league is in its 20th season at Carter Park and its 59th year overall.
"There’s a lot of upkeep and there a lot of little things that we try not to let get away and become
bigger problems later," said Pee Wee League president Tim Dunn, who is in his 33rd year with the
league.
"Our facility is in pretty good shape overall, so these are things that will add to the facility and
add to fan friendly viewing, and make it so all of the kids appreciate where they play and look forward
to playing at the facility."
The second phase is still being planned, but could include a new concession stand and additional
restrooms. There is only one men’s and women’s rest room at the facility.
But the league is considering changing the current concession stand into expanded restroom space and
building a new concession stand instead.
The final phase, in 2011, would include the renovating the pressbox for Diamond 4 to increase the space
for print and broadcast media, scorekeepers and announcers.
The league already hosts sectional and district high school tournaments, and the Black Swamp Tournament.
The league is hoping to bid in the future to be a host site for the state American Legion and ACME high
school tournaments.
The height of the pressbox will be increased so that those watching will be able to see over the
bleachers. The current bleachers behind home plate weren’t built high enough for pressbox personnel to
see.
This season, Diamond 4 is being used by the 14-year-old Bowling Green Junior Bobcat baseball team and
BG’s Colt League team for players age 15-18.
The league also hosts hosts 4-6 other major weekend tournaments during the season at its five-field
facility.
The league has sent out over 600 letters over the last nine months to generate financial support for the
program. The total cost of project is about $250,000.
"There are some facility upgrades, additions that need to be made that would not be available in our
normal year-to-year budget," said Dunn, who has been planning the renovations for about 5-7 years.
"Our normal budget takes care of umpires fees, our loan payment, our normal wear and tear on
repairing and maintaining the fields daily, and our equipment."
Dunn said contractors for the project will be donating some of their labor costs and materials at cost.
"We’ve done a good job on trying to limit the cost of everything, but the economy is tough right
now," Dunn said. "The BG community has fantastic with its past support and we’re reaching out
for more help to assist with our program."
Donations for the dreams project should be sent to Dunn, 556 Monroe Court, BG, 43402. For more
information on the project, e-mail Dunn at [email protected].
Once all three phases are completed, permanent signs listing the donors to the project will be displayed
at the park.
