The Ryder Park baseball field is home to Grand Island Senior High School and American Legion baseball games, (Carol Bryant, Central Nebraska Today)
GRAND ISLAND — Grand Island’s City Council heard a proposal Tuesday night, March 26, for a $5.1 million renovation of the Ryder Park baseball stadium.
The new field would have artificial turf and would be designed so it could be used as a baseball field or two softball fields.
Of the $5.1 million, a group of local baseball enthusiasts would contribute $1.75 million of the project. The City would contribute the remaining $3.35 million.
The city council chambers were full of people there to hear about the proposal.
The stadium is the home field for Grand Island Senior High School baseball in the spring and the American Legion Baseball program during the summer.
“Grand Island Public Schools is unable to commit to participation in the initial funding,” Parks and Recreation Director Todd McCoy wrote in a memo to City Council. The city initially proposed a 1-for-1 match, but the local group was unsure of its ability to raise that much money. The local group will be seeking grant funding that would reduce the amount of city funding that would be required.
The group approached the City and Grand Island Senior High School, and each contributed one-third of the cost to obtain a preliminary design and cost estimate by Olsson Engineering for the proposed renovation.
(City of Grand Island, Courtesy)
The renovated baseball stadium would have new dugouts, lights, concession stand, restrooms, additional scoreboard for use when there are two softball games being played, and an area for umpires. The existing metal canopy over the grandstand would remain.
Renovation of the stadium would begin after the summer 2025 baseball season. Work would be completed in time for games to be played there in the spring of 2026.
McCoy said talk about renovating the stadium has been occurring for 10 years.
Clint Ruether of Grand Island is chairman of the group of baseball enthusiasts who are working on the project.
Reuther showed the City Council members a video of Ryder Park and design renderings of the new facility.
He said that the concession stand would be outside the paid entrance area to the stadium, so people from a nearby playground could use the concession stand. The restrooms would be available year round. Currently, the stadium does not have year-round water and has porta-potties brought in.
“We would have the ability to have Hastings Sodbusters games there,” Reuther said.
By having artificial turf, the costs for upkeep of a grass field would go away, including mowing and fertilizing the field.
Councilman Mitch Nickerson wondered where the city would get the money for the project. He said the Parks Department already has millions of dollars tied up in projects right do. Refinancing the bond for the Veterans Park baseball fields or using food and beverage tax funds were suggested.
Nickerson also asked how long the artificial turf would last. The answer was 10 years. He then wondered how that cost would be paid. He asked about just paving the infield of the stadium. Baseball players and coaches responded to the benefits of having artificial turf cover the entire field, mainly to eliminate areas where bad bounces occur because of ongoing use of a particular area.
“If we want it to be a top-level park, we need to have artificial turf,” McCoy said. “We want to do this once. We want to do it right.”
“The history of this field has value to the community,” Ruether said.
Councilman Jack Sheard said he had seen the Creighton Prep baseball field and that it has a real “wow factor.” Other comments were made about how the majority of baseball fields in the Lincoln and Omaha areas have artificial turf, making them more popular for tournaments.
Councilwomen Michelle Fitzke said, “It’s time that we bring this forward.” She continued, “It’s a Class A school. It’s taking away money from our community (in the current condition).”
Councilman Chuck Haase said, “It’s all about how you bring value to Grand Island. The timing is right.”
Ruether said, “Somebody has to take the initiative to get this going.” He said that representatives from three local high schools and the American Legion were on his committee.
Councilman Mark Stelk said, “I think it’s something we need to move forward on. We have to do something for our kids.”
Mayor Roger Steele asked about whether a new stadium should be constructed at the Veterans Park north of Grand Island. Responses included that Ryder Park was the better location for the field.
