Work on the South Meadow Softball Complex is in its final phase. The city is in the process of installing new fencing and completing some concrete work which will wrap up the project. Revitalizing the South Meadow Softball Complex began about a year ago with the development of a new and improved layout for the softball fields that would allow for an alley way between them and additional seating.
The fences and dugouts were in disrepair and in Sept. the City of Sidney, in cooperation with Sidney Public Schools Superintendent Daniel Farr, held a workday where high school students from Mr. Merritt’s high school construction class worked with city staff to demo the former structures.
Since then, the city crew has built new dugouts, imported new infield material, and installed new bases and fences. To prevent scheduling conflicts, demo and construction had to wait until Aug. as Youth Softball was still using the field. Quick progress has since been made to complete the project before winter.
Girls Class A Softball will be holding their state tournament on the new fields May 25 – 27 of 2017, which was a big push behind the $65,000 project.
Part of the funding was provided through the Tourism Business Improvement District (TBID); TBID supports events that help to grow and benefit the community by partially sponsoring projects that will bring over-night guests. Other sponsors include the Dayton Foundation, Olson Foundation, Mr. John Olson (Blue Rock Products), Sherry Arnold Tournament Fund, Richland County Commissioners, and the Sidney School District. The Eagle Foundation also has available funding should it be needed.
“The donation from the city was mainly in time and labor,” commented Public Works Director Jeff Hintz. “Daniel Farr has done a great job in finding the needed funding for this project. The TBID Grant is meant for these types of things that are going to bring people to Sidney.”
Expanding the venues and accommodations for the city helps to promote Sidney as a great place for sporting events, festivals, and business conferences, and the work done at the South Meadow Softball Complex has provided one more amenity to the Sunrise City.
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