Craven County accepts $40,000 foundation grant for softball batting cage and beach-volleyball shelter

The Craven County Board of Commissioners on Feb. 17 approved using county matching funds to deploy a $40,000 grant from the Harold Bate Foundation to build a batting cage and a shaded picnic shelter at county recreation facilities.

The grant requires a 50% local match, bringing the total project cost to $85,000. County staff told commissioners the project is split roughly into $70,000 for the picnic shelter and $15,000 for the batting cage, and that Little League softball previously donated $5,000 toward the batting-cage portion in December 2024.

Mark Seymour, speaking for Craven County Recreation and Parks, said attendance has risen, particularly in girls’ youth softball and beach volleyball, and that the batting cage addresses a practice bottleneck: “Early youth softball share a single batting cage, creating a bottleneck during practices. Additional cage will alleviate the issue and better prepare Creekside to host district and state tournaments.” Commissioners said a shaded shelter near the volleyball courts would also benefit parents and other park users.

The board voted to approve the consent and budget amendment that applies the match and moves the project forward; the vote was unanimous. County staff expects construction to finish in spring 2025 and noted the Bate Foundation has supported other local recreation projects, including the disc-golf course at West Bradenton Park scheduled to open in March.

Funding details, including the source of the county match and timing of contract awards, were provided in the staff packet but no construction contract vendor was named at the meeting. Commissioners asked staff to return with implementation timing as bids and schedules are finalized.