Public-private partnership revives Hidden Oaks fields; McNicholas Foundation funds upgrades and Florida Baseball Club expands programming

County leaders and private donors highlighted renovations at Hidden Oaks Middle School's athletic complex on May 6 that reopened underused fields and introduced expanded youth programming.

Kevin Abate, parks and recreation director, described multi-year work with the McNicholas Family Foundation and Martin County School Board under an interlocal agreement to restore and upgrade soccer and baseball fields. Work included laser grading, irrigation, donated turf, warning tracks, foul poles, refurbished concession building (doors, windows, painting), new drinking fountains, donated scoreboards, new LED lighting, drainage, tree plantings and bleacher shade structures.

Tom McNicholas, representing the McNicholas Family Foundation, described the effort as organic: "We have put in more than a half million dollars into those facilities," he said, and said Florida Baseball Club has grown programming at the site from one coach and one team to 14 coaches and five teams in about 18 months. McNicholas said the program requires volunteer hours from participating youth and that maintenance responsibilities have been assumed in part by Florida Baseball Club coaches and staff.

Commissioners praised the partnership. Commissioner Hetherington called it "a beautiful facility" and "a perfect example of a private-public partnership," while others noted the project turned an underused, partly condemned concession building into a community asset. The school board approved the interlocal agreement phases, staff said.

No formal board vote was required; the presentation recognized the partnership and progress and commissioners encouraged continued support of youth athletics and maintenance commitments.