New softball facility at Traceway in the works

By Randy Bell

Work should begin soon on a new concession stand at Traceway Park’s Softball 4-Plex. At their April 7 meeting, the Board of Aldermen accepted a $1.138 million bid from Richard Womack Construction, LLC of Magee to demolish the old building, relocate a water line and construct the new facility. This will be the latest parks and recreation project funded by Clinton’s two per cent restaurant tax.

“I’m hoping that we can break ground within the next month, if possible,” says Parks and Recreation Director Courtney Nunn, who’s expecting a six-to-eight-month construction period. “I believe this is going to bring a lot more comfort within the 4-Plex. We host a lot of tournaments, but it’s really difficult when you have great fields but the facilities aren’t the best. So, hopefully, this will make a lot of mommas happy. As we’re continuing to grow the parks and upgrade our facilities, I think it’s just going to be better for Clinton to bring more tournaments here.”

The relocation of the water line at the 4-Plex is expected to result in the closing of Softball Fields 1 and 2.

Nunn explains: “Entrances into those two fields are going to fall within the construction zone. For liability purposes, we’re probably going to have to close those two fields. Fields 3 and 4 will still be playable, but they will only have one entrance and one exit for each field. We’ll be able to move a lot of softball activity to 3 and 4 and [Fields] 5 and 6.”

During the construction, softball players and spectators at the 4-Plex will have access to new restroom facilities located between Fields 5 and 6, another project built with restaurant tax revenue.

Meghan Giompoletti is serving as president of the Clinton Softball Organization (CSO), which has 147 girls registered.

“That’s the most we’ve had in the past three years,” she says.

With their season ending around the first week in May, Giompoletti is keeping her fingers crossed that the construction won’t interfere with the final games.

“We’re hoping that we may be able to eke that out while they work out logistics and things like that.”

If not, she says her organization’s relationship with the Clinton Baseball Association (CBA) could provide other options.

“I know that they would be willing to lend a field or two if [workers] start construction before we finish.”