http://www.montgomeryadvertiser.com/arti...o-figure-into-plans-future-sports-venues
The city has made remarkable strides in the last two years with the renovation of Cramton Bowl, the construction of the Multiplex and the addition of a soccer stadium as part of its complex in east Montgomery.
What’s next?
As the Capital City positions itself as a destination for amateur sports tournaments, what will be the next facility slated for improvement or construction?
...“Paterson Field is not something we’re proud of,” Montgomery Mayor Todd Strange said. “That would probably be the best big capital expense.”
There are also plans for new track facilities and a new tennis complex, but each comes with its own set of headaches and long-range plans. Paterson Field, while a simple renovation, also involves long-range plans that are part of the “Gateway” blueprints to upgrade Madison Avenue.
Those plans include building
a new hotel on the site of the State House Inn; building
a new municipal court facility on the site of the old state revenue building;
renovation of the Montgomery Curb Market; and the
addition of stores along Madison Avenue that would take up approximately 120 feet of parking lot space the length of the Cramton Bowl and Paterson Field parking lots.
“Today, you would fix (Paterson Field) incrementally but at some point in time, when we get the whole vision of that ‘Gateway’ in, that’s when we think about (Paterson) because the whole financial package to get that done would also get some of the renovations to Paterson Field done,” Strange said. “And we’re pretty close to getting that done.”
When the Gateway project is finalized, architects will present plans for upgrading Paterson Field, so no renovation cost has been established.
The changes likely would include the construction of a new press box ... renovation of the locker rooms... chair back seating... construction of a new roof for the facility.
At that time, the money available would determine the scope of the renovation. For example, the old canopy covers only the center part of the facility, but most new facilities have canopies that run the length of the grandstands.
The renovation of the facility, which should include a widening of the upper concourse, could put it in line to host college conference tournaments and other events that the city has tried to acquire in recent years for Riverwalk Stadium.
“While we have Riverwalk Stadium and everybody loves to play in Riverwalk Stadium, if you’re doing something during the Biscuits’ season, it’s awful hard to book anything in there because they have a contract with Major League Baseball where (non-Biscuits events) have to be off the diamond two hours before game time,” Strange said. “They’ve been very accommodating, but we need a facility we can be proud of that we can do these other events. The field is decent at Paterson Field, but the facility is old. We need to spruce it up, paint it up, fix it up. That’s $500,000-$600,000 or maybe closer to a million.”
... it’s difficult to book a 64-year-old stadium until the renovations are made.
“We’d love to upgrade Paterson Field...It’s a great asset. People would be shocked at the number of events at Paterson Field in a year. If Paterson was upgraded, I think maybe we could hold college tournaments. At least, it could be a joint thing with Riverwalk like the high school state tournament.”
A new tennis complex, stalled in recent years over a political debate concerning its location, is still in the planning stages and could become a reality, along with a new track stadium that would involve a partnership between the city and Alabama State University.
“We’ve been in conversations with ASU over track and field...they don’t have a spot for the field events. There is actually a spot where we’ve drawn it out to put it, where Paterson Court is. Acquiring that is not the issue, it’s the units that have to be available for those (current) residents to go to. That’s why new construction at Tulane Court is very important to get that second phase in.
“I think track and field, along with Paterson, is probably a high priority, then you’ve got the whole tennis issue, whether we do
36 courts or just add a few courts (to Lagoon Park Tennis Center). You can put two or three more at Lagoon or you can do a total of 36 and
compete with the Mobiles of the world. My theory is, if we’re going to do it, let’s do it right. So if it takes a year or two or three longer to go the whole way, that’s where I want to be.
“Then, on the horizon, through the YMCA … would be
a 50-meter pool somewhere.”
Each of the projects involves other aspects of city planning.
Paterson Field likely will become the first project because the Gateway plan is first for city planners. After the construction of new housing facilities on Hall Street is complete, tenants can be moved from
Paterson Court, allowing the
demolition of those units along the north side of University Drive, where the field events would be constructed for
a new track stadium that would include the Hornet Stadium grandstands and the university’s current track.
The construction of the track facility likely would free city planners to enter into a partnership with AUM to construct
a new tennis facility at the corner of Taylor Road and Interstate 85 that would include
32 courts and an indoor facility to host major tennis events.
The city has taken steps in recent months to
upgrade the Lagoon Park Softball Complex as well, something that must be done as the city continue to fight other municipalities over the right to host regional and national tournaments.
“The whole complex needs to be upgraded...It’s 38 years old. ...we’ve got to upgrade it” ...
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