Parks board approves league-funded batting cage at Red Bud Park and agrees to a leagues workshop

The Abilene Parks Board approved a league-funded plan to install a batting cage and associated field improvements at Red Bud Park and agreed to schedule a workshop to review city league policies.

Chris Gibson, assistant director of parks and recreation, presented the league’s proposal for a roughly 35-foot by 50-foot concrete pad topped by a pavilion-style batting cage and a batter's-eye wall behind the outfield. "You're looking at a 35 foot by 50 foot location," Gibson said, and described a batter's-eye that would be "about 9 foot off top of the fence." Gibson said the league would cover 100% of the construction costs and that the league’s goal was to have the work completed before the spring season.

Noel, the new deputy city manager, moved to approve the batting cage plan; the motion was seconded and the board voted to carry the motion. Staff said once the board approved the concept, the city would obtain the required drawings and proceed with the build-out while coordinating with the league.

Separately, Leslie asked the board to schedule a two-hour Parks Board workshop in the January–February timeframe to take a deeper look at how the city manages leagues, compare approaches used by peer communities and consider potential policy or organizational changes. Board members agreed to try to schedule the workshop in that window.