Citizen Portal
Sign In

Local volunteers pitch inclusive baseball diamond; commissioners give tentative support

Decatur County Board of Commissioners · December 17, 2025

Get AI-powered insights, summaries, and transcripts

Subscribe
AI-Generated Content: All content on this page was generated by AI to highlight key points from the meeting. For complete details and context, we recommend watching the full video. so we can fix them.

Summary

Volunteers and parks staff presented a plan for an inclusive, turf baseball diamond for special‑needs athletes with a rough first‑phase cost estimate of about $328,689.90. Commissioners asked for a feasibility/site plan and expressed general support, but no formal funding decision was made.

Mike Sefton and community volunteers presented a proposal for an inclusive baseball diamond designed for athletes with physical and cognitive disabilities. Sefton described outreach to specialty builders and referenced existing models such as Casey's Clubhouse in Pittsburgh. He provided an approximate first‑phase cost estimate: "That should give you the amount would be approximately $328,689.90 approximately."

Speakers discussed siting, parking and phased construction. Parks staff suggested two possible locations (the existing complex and Rebecca Park) and warned that parking and tournament scheduling could create conflicts if the field is placed where it would reduce available tournament parking. Commissioners and parks leadership emphasized the need for a feasibility assessment, a site plan that addresses parking and utilities, and a fundraising strategy; volunteers said fundraising (led by a Rotary team) would be the primary source of funds and that phases would allow the project to proceed incrementally.

Commissioners voiced support in principle and directed staff and the volunteer team to return with a formal feasibility study, site recommendation and parking plan. No county funding was pledged in the meeting record; the presenters described private fundraising and grant opportunities.

What happens next: The project team will complete a feasibility assessment, consult with parks staff about specific sites and return with a formal plan for commissioner consideration.