Coppess: Sun City softball field project makes huge gains

Here is what’s happening at the Sun Bowl Softball Field.

Our Softball Club is getting a face lift and not a minor one in any way either. The container has been delivered to start the renovation. The drawings are at bidding and we are hopeful for a December completion date, with a grand opening slated for March 13.

A few of the new items on the radar include a huge fan in the stands; a new clubhouse will be built with a nice kitchen with a counter and window slides, a sink and ice maker and refrigerator; an office area; a meeting room; a wall of fame; a 12x10 upstairs announcer’s booth; a camera will be installed in the gable to live stream games 24/7; eight new security cameras installed — last year we had more than $6,000 worth of equipment stolen; outdoor patio concreted in with barbecue area and tables; a storage building 16x36 will house field maintenance equipment and tractor, the other side will be an “Iron Mike” batting cage, which will have a card reader open to all membership to practice; information on opening to the public will be at a later date.

We are very pleased with the support from the Recreation Centers of Sun City board. Without the help of Bill Cook, general manager, and Chris Herring, operations director, this would not have come to fruition as quickly as it did. The cost of this project (PIF) is a cool million dollars. Our hope was to get lights in with this renovation but with the extended time it takes to get the permits would not allow us to get the project off the ground in a timely manner. We will be looking at these down the road.

Stop by to see how the project is going. Softball play will continue through all the renovations.