This past weekend, I traveled to Caledonia to cheer on my seven-year-old son Dean as he competed in the state all-star tournament with the Winona 8-and-under All-Star team. My husband Keith was an assistant coach for the team.
For the past several weeks, this team of seven and eight-year-old boys have practiced almost daily in the June heat in preparation for this two-day tournament. Initially, it was set for June 19-20, but it was postponed a week due to rain. Of course, we were 20 minutes from the Caledonia park when the tournament was called, so we canceled our hotel, enjoyed a Chick-fil-A lunch, and drove back home to Carrollton. Even with no baseball played, my family enjoyed the little day trip together.
Last Friday afternoon, we headed back to Caledonia so our boys could finally play ball. The park, formally known as Ola J. Pickett Park, featured five fields, a concession building, pavilion, and bathrooms. The park volunteers were friendly and helpful, and the concession stand accepted credit cards. (Take note, Winona!)
Despite the convection oven-type temperatures, I enjoyed cheering on the kids. Two players hit their first out-of-the-park home runs Saturday. I’ve seen several inside-the-park homeruns in my years as a Little League mom, basically watching kids scramble around for the ball or throwing a wild pitch into the opposing team’s dugout while the batter runs freely around the bases. These were out-of-the-park home runs – both sailing over the centerfield fence before a crowd standing and screaming in excitement.
My boy didn’t hit one over the fence, but he batted .900 for the weekend – pretty dang impressive for a child with my athletic ability. Keith and I were puffed up with pride after his good showing.
Since early spring, the Ferguson family has been regulars at the Winona Recreational Park. Dean played recreational soccer in March and April, baseball began in May, and tennis started in June. Up until recently, you could find us at the park two to three days a week, depending on which sport we were playing. And we weren’t the only ones.
On the opening day of recreational baseball/softball season, more than a thousand people surrounded turf fields at the park – the newest improvement the city has made there.
As a native of DeSoto County, I watched the famous Snowden Grove Park go from a privately-owned hunting camp for Bob White quail to a well-known destination in youth baseball circles. In the 14 years I’ve been in Winona, I’ve watched the Winona Recreational Park go from small town rec league to an ideal tournament local with its central location.
In cities with a population of just less than 5,000, it is rare to find recreational parks featuring turf fields, professional lighting, batting cages, bricked dugouts, bleacher canopies, three newly-resurfaced tennis courts, nice playground equipment, and a recreational walking trail.
In Winona, the recreational park is this community’s crown jewel. It brings thousands of people to town throughout the year for multi-game tournaments. These visitors fill up our hotel rooms, eat in our restaurants, and shop at our retailers. In fact, in looking at revenue numbers over the past decade, the Winona Recreational Park is the largest tourist attraction in both Montgomery and Carroll counties, as overflow tournament play is often held at the Carroll County Recreational Park in North Carrollton.
Since Winona Park Director Mike Narmour was hired in 2009, well over $1.5 million in tournament fees, admissions, and concessions have come to Winona. This figure does not include the increase in sales tax from visitors eating, shopping, and staying in Winona.
Prior to 2009, the park was averaging less than $40,000 per year in revenue.
The continued improvements at the park have definitely seen a return on investment – tenfold.
As I said earlier, the Winona eight-and-under All-Star team was scheduled to play in the state tournament on June 19-20. In fact, 14 teams from around the state were registered to play in that tournament. Due to the rainout, the tournament was re-scheduled for this past weekend, and only five teams were returned to play.
In Winona, the investment in new turf fields has practically put an end to tournament rain-outs. If it rains and there is no lighting, the turf fields allow rainwater to drain quickly. So instead of tournament cancelation, games can usually be delayed (if no lighting is present) until fields drain.
As a parent, I have enjoyed the benefits of having a beautiful community park and recreational athletic opportunities for my child.
Special thanks to all the organizers, employees, and volunteers that made for another successful season of recreational baseball/softball. We will see you again this fall as soccer kicks off again.
