SYLACAUGA, Ala. – After nearly eight months, major improvements have been completed at the Donald Comer Jr. Recreation.
In June of 2018, the Sylacauga City Council approved nearly $500,000 in upgrades to the park including new scoreboards, eliminating electrical issues and solving the parks biggest problem, lighting.
Sylacauga Parks and Recreation Director Jim Armstrong told SylacaugaNews.com last year that roughly 60 percent of the lights were not working properly and said the lighting had been there since the complex was first built.
Today, that lighting, and many of the other issues are no longer a problem.
“The improvements we planned on making are completely finished,” said Steve Masters. Masters is the athletics director for Sylacauga Parks and Recreation. “The lights are fully functional, the PA system for each field is all done and all the scoreboards are up with the advertising panels on.”
Lighting in the parking lot has also been restored at the fields which was a very dark area of the park.
The only improvement left to complete is the security camera system which Masters says should be finished soon.
The renovations and changes come at a great time as Sylacauga was awarded the Cal Ripken 12U state all-star tournament on Wednesday.
“The facilities are key. When the decisions are made on who will host which tournaments, the first thing you have to do is make sure fields are regulation and have the proper amenities,” Masters explained. “You don’t want a state tournament at a complex where the lights and scoreboards don’t work, the PA system does not work and the fields aren’t well kept.”
Sylacauga Parks and Rec. is hoping to improve one other aspect of the fields. The department has taken bids for new backstops on all fields.
The baseball season is also right around the corner. Masters said registration is now open for ages 5-12 at the J. Craig Community Center during business hours. Tryouts will be held on March 2 at 10:00. Opening day day is Monday, April 1, at 5:00.
