Parks Commission approves Simmons Stadium concourse, parking and amenities plan

The Parks Commission on April 13 approved a request from Let's Play 2 LLC to implement concourse improvements and parking-lot engineering work at Simmons Stadium, and to use cell-tower revenues allocated to Simmons Field for certain items.

Parks staff told the commission that cell-tower revenues associated with Simmons Field total about $605,000 and that a portion of those funds would be applied this year to stadium-related improvements. Staff said the current request includes items such as higher-quality portable toilets (trailered units rather than standalone porta-potties), parking-lot repairs, a new press box and fencing upgrades on the Sheridan Road side; staff provided a working figure of roughly $170,000 as an average amount for some of the work, including engineering.

A commissioner raised ongoing concerns about balls leaving the field and striking parked cars adjacent to the stadium. The commissioner asked whether the netting and poles had been repaired after previous incidents; staff responded that a new pole and a new net had been installed and estimated the repair at about $25,000.

A commissioner also asked whether portable toilets would be cleaned regularly; staff said they would be cleaned daily. Bill Fanning, who identified himself by name and gave a local address, said the trailer units pictured in the packet were outside the project’s likely price range but confirmed that the portable toilets rented for last year’s events were cleaned after every event.

Following discussion, a motion to approve the stadium request was made, seconded and approved by voice vote. The transcript records the board voting "aye" and the chair saying the motion carries; no roll-call tally by name or vote counts were recorded in the transcript.

The record does not show additional permit conditions, a detailed budget breakdown, or a project schedule beyond the statements cited above.