By BOB SHRALUKA
WZBD.com
A long-awaited upgrade of the ball diamond in Kekionga Park is scheduled to begin early next week, Operations Manager Jeremy Gilbert told Decatur City Council at its latest meeting.
The upgrade is part of the city’s three-pronged Kekionga Project, which also includes the new dog park and the stocking of the pond beside the dog park.
Some of the funding comes from a $50,000 state Patronicity grant made possible by the match of $50,000 raised through local donations. In addition, the city is using American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) funds.
The Kekionga diamond, used for both men’s softball and co-ed softball, has been in poor condition for years. Efforts to bring about an upgrade were slowed in the past year or so by having to work around restrictions demanded by the Indiana Department of Natural Resources (DNR).
The upgrade of the diamond features Custom Net Backstops Inc. erecting nets to essentially surround the field. Custom Net Backstops put up nets at the REV Sports Complex.
A new backstop screen will also go up.
The nets will have a unique feature: they can be raised 10 feet in the event of flooding. That was a requirement of the Department of Natural Resource (DNR) since the area is in a flood plain.
Bleeke Electric of Decatur, which handled the non-field lighting at the REV, will use LED lights to illuminate the Kekionga diamond.
