Thanks to funding from the Kenedy 4B Corporation, the park and the ball fields have seen dramatic improvements in the last 14 years.
Kenedy 4B Corporation Board President Larry Kiesling said that the half-cent sales tax that voters approved years ago has greatly improved the quality of the park, but money from an oil and gas lease on property owned by the Kenedy 4B corporation has provided even more funding and has allowed even more much needed repairs, enhancements and improvements.
Kiesling said the field now used for high school baseball games was originally built in 1963, which was the first year he came to Kenedy.
“We took all the old lights we had at the high school and brought them down here,” Kiesling said. “They were here until we got new lights.”
Kiesling explained that the aging lighting system was becoming a hazard, according to electricians who evaluated the lights.
“I was able to persuade the city council to go ahead and buy the lights,” Kiesling said.
The City of Kenedy and the Kenedy 4B Corporation teamed up to pay the $180,000 price tag. 4B contributed $60,000 for the lights and the City of Kenedy paid the remaining $120,000.
This will be the first season for the new lighting system to be in use, Kiesling explained.
The lighting system, which Kiesling characterized as a long term investment, is guaranteed to be maintenance free for the next 25 years.
Two new sets of aluminum bleachers have been added at the baseball field which will greatly expand the seating capacity for baseball and softball fans who visit the park.
New netting has also been installed to help keep foul balls inside the park.
Approximately $7,000 to $8,000 has been spent on improving the quality of the ball field itself, but adding new dirt and making other upgrades.
“We leveled it with sand,” Kiesling said.
Kiesling said a 20-foot-tall new wind screen was installed in center field. The new screen will let more air pass through and will work more effectively and reduce long-term maintenance costs.
The park and the school district work together as a partnership, Kiesling explained.
“The high school has first priority to play on this field,” Kiesling said. “The school rents these fields – and this is the first year for this – they rent this field and the softball field over there – they pay $10,000 per year to play and practice on the fields.”
The money goes to pay for the lights, maintenance and upkeep. Kiesling described it as a bargain for the school district, because all they have to do is show up and play.
The new lighting system will allow them to play at times that will allow games with later start times and as a result, the game times will conform to a more normal high school schedule and more people will be able to enjoy the games.
A new scoreboard was installed about three years ago as a result of a generous donation from Wells Fargo, Kiesling explained.
Kiesling said he is pleased with the improvements at the park, especially at the ball fields, and he hopes further improvements will come in the years ahead.
“4B funds all this stuff,” Kiesling explained. “We have a parks board that comes up with projects for 4B’s consideration. But they kind of leave the baseball fields to me.”
Kiesling said another improvement waiting in the wings is a $5,000 Nolan Ryan batting cage that has been waiting in 17 boxes ready to be assembled by members of the school coaching staff.
The city maintenance workers work very hard to keep all the fields in immaculate condition and top-notch appearance.
A temporary fence has also been added to the softball field which will give players a field that conforms more closely to UIL specifications and will allow an occasional homerun to fly beyond the confines of the park.
Kiesling hopes that soon there will improvements made to the lighting at the softball field by installing some of the better lights that were removed from the baseball field. If it happens, it would double the amount of lighting at the softball field.
Other general park improvements on the horizon may include a lighted regulation size basketball court, improvements in drainage, and possible a large covered pavilion that could serve as a centralized concession area for the park.
The improvements to the park in general have been numerous over the past 14 years, largely due to the funding provided by the half-cent sales tax that the City of Kenedy residents approved as designated for parks and recreation use in 1997.
play at times that will allow games with later start times and as a result, the game times will conform to a more normal high school schedule and more people will be able to enjoy the games.
A new scoreboard was installed about three years ago as a result of a generous donation from Wells Fargo, Kiesling explained.
Kiesling said he is pleased with the improvements at the park, especially at the ball fields, and he hopes further improvements will come in the years ahead.
“4B funds all this stuff,” Kiesling explained. “We have a parks board that comes up with projects for 4B’s consideration. But they kind of leave the baseball fields to me.”
Kiesling said another improvement waiting in the wings is a $5,000 Nolan Ryan batting cage that has been waiting in 17 boxes ready to be assembled by members of the school coaching staff.
The city maintenance workers work very hard to keep all the fields in immaculate condition and top-notch appearance.
A temporary fence has also been added to the softball field which will give players a field that conforms more closely to UIL specifications and will allow an occasional homerun to fly beyond the confines of the park.
Kiesling hopes that soon there will improvements made to the lighting at the softball field by installing some of the better lights that were removed from the baseball field. If it happens, it would double the amount of lighting at the softball field.
Other general park improvements on the horizon may include a lighted regulation size basketball court, improvements in drainage, and possible a large covered pavilion that could serve as a centralized concession area for the park.
The improvements to the park in general have been numerous over the past 14 years, largely due to the funding provided by the half-cent sales tax that the City of Kenedy residents approved as designated for parks and recreation use in 1997.
to bad funds can't be used for street improvements in Kenedy. Worst streets of any town I've ever
been in.