CHESNEE, S.C. (WSPA) – The Spartanburg County Parks and Recreation Department will be making renovations to Bryant Road Park in Chesnee starting this winter with work set to continue through next spring.
The construction period would overlap with the spring sports season for youth sports leagues, so a new facility, or multiple facilities, would need to be found.
Danny Rising, co-president of Boiling Springs District 2 Youth Sports, said Bryant Road Park is in need of renovations and unfortunately, it will overlap with the spring sports season.
“Parking has been a big concern. Restrooms have been a big concern and concession stands are probably the biggest concern,” Rising said, adding that hidden problems become more apparent when it rains. “It takes longer to prepare the fields because there’s nowhere for the water to go.”
In a Facebook post Monday, the Spartanburg County Parks and Recreation Department gave an update on the timeline of park renovations, which includes:
- ADA Accessible Pathways and Restrooms
- 1 additional stadium (6 stadiums total)
- New benches and bleachers
- Paved parking lot
- Heighten the fence along the first base baseline
- Shade structure for spectators
- Additional warm-up space for athletes
The county is currently in the final design process, with the bidding process expected to begin soon, according to Spartanburg County Parks and Recreation Marketing Manager Kristen Gilfoos.
“We’re currently finalizing plans that will include a paved parking lot, we’ll also be adding another baseball field,” Gilfoos said, “and we’ll also be putting in new bleachers. [and] A lot of ADA-accessible pathways have been created that didn’t exist before.”
Gilfoos County wanted to emphasize that the $5 million project is focused on renovations rather than additions, but if there is room in the budget, the county plans to add 1.3 miles of pedestrian trails around the baseball field, add a new playground and upgrade the press box.
All of the planned renovations are something Boiling Springs youth players and parents say is needed.
“In other words [my son] “My son and I are at the ballpark all the time,” said Danny Rodriguez, who was getting ready to help his 9-year-old son, Jordan, with baseball practice. “You can’t help but notice the concession stands are falling apart.”
Jordan will be playing D2 flag football next spring but will play for a traveling baseball team in the offseason, and he told 7NEWS he thinks the field needs to be “upgraded.”
Jordan’s father said it’s hard to find an open practice field like this one right now.
“A lot of times we have to go to the outfield and we can’t even use the field, and when we can’t do that we usually end up going home,” Danny Rodriguez said.
Rising said the league isn’t sure where they’ll practice next spring, but he knows sometimes you have to give something in return to get better.
“This is probably one of the biggest things that could happen to Boiling Springs and this rapidly growing region,” Rising said.
Rising added that the league’s board of directors is in active discussions with Spartanburg County Parks and Recreation officials about where to host games next spring. Gilfoos agreed.
“North Spartanburg Complex, Holston Creek [Park]”Those are probably going to be the two main spots. We might need to send power to Inman, but we’re not sure about other locations,” Rising said.
“We are working closely with our friends at Boiling Springs Youth Sports, District 2, to identify alternative field space for spring athletics,” the county’s Parks and Recreation Department said on its Facebook page.
