Batting cages open at Memorial Park

 

September 2, 2021

Over the weekend, the two new batting cages at Memorial Park were officially opened up for public use. Pictured above, after taking batting practice, are, from left, Brett and Makaela Dodson, Jonah and Kinlee Keltner, Stephen and Clara Tanner, and Jeremy and Kabry Adkins.

Lewis County Mayor Jonah Keltner recently announced the completion of two large 70-foot-long by 30-foot-wide concrete batting cages at Memorial Park.

According to Mayor Keltner, "This large project, which cost around $25,000 and added a lot of valuable infrastructure to our park, was accomplished through a successful public-private partnership that featured several key contributors."

The batting cages were inspired by a local resident and businessman who also generously funded the entire project, but has wished to remain anonymous. Jason Graves and his awesome crew of linemen at MLEC generously donated and delivered the 24 old telephone poles that were used for the project. This saved lots of time, as well as an additional $3,000 in expenses.

Park Board member and local businessman Paul Rawdon generously donated the use of his skid steer for the project, so that Park Director Randall Hinson could dig the huge holes and set the extremely heavy 17-foot-long telephone poles that were needed to hold up the nets.

County Maintenance workers Derek Powers, Cazz Crowder and Tommy Taylor braced the poles so that concrete could be poured around them. They also installed all the hardware and hung up the four nets.

Thanks to Sheriff Dwayne Kilpatrick and Jail Administrator Josh Keltner, a couple of Trustees from the Lewis County Workhouse were also allowed to help with the construction of the project.

Lewis County Government Summer Youth Worker Austin Pitts, whose position is being funded through a partnership with the American Jobs Center, also contributed to the project, as well as Lewis County Dixie Youth Head Umpire, Rickey Duvall.

Everything for this project, except for the nets and initial hardware, was purchased locally. Oakley Carroll was hired to do the initial excavation work. The concrete was purchased through Smyrna Ready Mix, while local contractor Jamie Beasley and his staff were hired to finish the large concrete pads. The final pieces of hardware for the nets were purchased at our local hardware stores, including Tractor Supply, 412 Building Supply, and Ace Hardware."

Keltner concluded by saying, "I appreciate every person, business and organization that made this project possible. Because of you, the youth baseball and softball players in our community now have a safe place to practice and work on improving their batting and pitching techniques".

 

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