Sacramento Breaks Ground On New Baseball Field
SACRAMENTO (CBS13) - Some Sacramento residents got a chance to unveil their own field of dreams at the North Natomas Regional Baseball Park at the groundbreaking ceremony.
"We're really excited about today because, literally, thousands of baseball kids will have a baseball home in Natomas," said Sacramento Vice Mayor Angelique Ashby.
What was just an idea seven years ago has become a reality for North Natomas.
"When this is completed it will be state of the art, one of the finest ball fields, complexes in the area," said Jim Combs, Director of Parks.
Construction is underway on a long awaited baseball park. The $5.6 million project will include a little league softball and senior baseball field. Other amenities make it a valuable resource in the Natomas community.
"What's really fun about baseball and sports is the families that you meet, and so if you have multiple kids and start to talk, that's how you start to build communities," said Ashby.
The park was funded by park impact fees and Natomas homeowner property taxes. Combs said the groundbreaking comes at a time when development in Natomas has been at a halt.
"They kind of had a double whammy through the down turn of the economy with no new development, so this is really exciting for them, because it's a new amenity," said Combs.
Along with a kids' adventure playground, parking lot and picnic area, John Feser with North Natomas Little League said the park will be a multipurpose venue.
"We'll be able to host tournaments, little league tournaments, all-star games, and the city as well can use the facilities for adult sports," said Feser.
Completion date for the regional baseball field is April 2013. The park is expected to draw approximately 200,000 visitors per year.
