"Park District Nears Deal for Softball Fields" was a JS headline on 11/07/03, almost five years ago. While not at liberty to disclose the location, Tim Cassidy, Park Board President said that "construction of the estimated $2 million dollar facility wouldn't begin until 2005, largely because the PPD 2004 budget has no funds allocated for the project". Cassidy continued "we're confident we'll have a softball facility on land swapped with Bradley for Meinen Field (now Shea Soccer Stadium and owned by Bradly University) by 2006".
In September of 2004 the JSEB gave the park and Bradley a "thumbs up" for "creating a land swap that appears to benefit them both, Meinen Field for 80 acres of land at the corner of Fox Rd. and Rt. 91." The Recorder of Deeds Office show that Bradley purchased 162 acres of land at this location for $13,000 an acre in November of 2003. All of that land still remains in the name of Bradley University and is farm land.....
Interesting.
In light of an article in the JS "Fun as far as the eye can see" dated 6/15/08, that quoted PPD Board Member Roger Allen, "our finances are in superb condition", why have they reneged on a promise they made to the public (up to 10 new fields to supplement EastSide facilities to draw more and larger national tournaments to the area) during a park board political race?
A ray of hope for softball fans albeit a couple of years late was legal notice in today's JS under "Advertisement for Bids", Lake Avenue (Peoria Stadium) Softball Fields, bids due September 4, 2008. I understand two softball fields and one baseball field are to be constructed on that site ready for the 2009 season. Ken Hinton had sent me an email answer on 6/18/08 saying that the school district and the park "are working together and our stadium property will be taking on a new look". An article in the JS dated 7/04/06 stated that the Illinois Department of Natural Resources will pay half of the renovations cost.
For all the plaudits the park district receives, one must be reminded that many great things should be accomplished with the park's budget at over $48 million.
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