Paducah approves donation of 2400 Brooks Stadium Drive to school district for softball field

The Paducah Board of Commissioners adopted a municipal order on May 27 authorizing the mayor to execute a real estate donation agreement and deed to transfer property at 2400 Brooks Stadium Drive to the Paducah Independent District Board of Education for construction of a softball field.

City Manager (staff member) told the commission the district had agreed to build the softball facility "no later than May of next year" and to address an identified blight site in Forest Hills as part of the agreement; the transfer includes utility easements and is roughly two acres behind the Brooks Stadium parking area.

Why this matters: the transfer is intended to provide a new facility for school athletics while addressing a blighted property. The city manager said the agreement includes callback provisions that would allow the city to retake the property if the school district fails to meet the construction or remediation commitments.

Commissioners voted by roll call to approve the municipal order. Commissioner Henderson, Commissioner Smith, Commissioner Thomas, Commissioner Wilson and Mayor George Bray all recorded "Aye." The order was moved and seconded during the meeting; no recorded no votes or abstentions were announced.

What was discussed: the city manager summarized coordination steps with Paducah Independent Schools and said the district will work to avoid scheduling conflicts with the Paducah Chiefs season. The manager said utility easements are included and that the city and school will coordinate construction plans to avoid overlap with adjacent Brooks Stadium operations.

Next steps: the mayor was authorized to sign the deed and related documents. The city manager said staff will monitor the district's progress to the May deadline and enforce the callback clauses if the district does not meet the agreement terms.