Ernie Apt. Park, located in Fairborn, OH, was approved for major renovations, costing $13.6 million and including the addition of several new ballfields, equipment and more.
On Sunday, Jan. 18, the plan was unveiled at a meeting at Fairborn High School to turn Ernie Apt. Park, a local community park near Wright State University (WSU), into a sports park.
The renovations will add a new football field, two dirt infield fields, two synthetic turf infield fields and three grass infield fields. They will also add over 300 new parking spaces, a new concession stand with shaded seating, new bleachers, new dugouts and improvements to the existing park, according to the report.
Marilyn McCauley, the Project Chair, shared the reason for these renovations.
“Because of the needs of the park itself, the physical facilities have got to be upgraded to take care of the kids for the future,” McCauley said.
Ernie Apt. Park is currently used by several sports leagues in the area, such as the Fairborn Little League and Wee Hawks Football. These new fields will offer more space for the kids. Additionally, the park is open to the public for community use.
Brian Bayless is the director of the Fairborn Little League. This plan will have an effect on his league and the kids in it.
“[The plan is] to give the kids a good platform, a good area, that they can feel safe, they can feel protected, these kids can grow,” Bayless said.
Although there are official leagues who use the park’s ballfields, it is a public park near WSU, giving student athletes access to more practice space.
WSU's Club Sports program, managed by Jake Wells, is a WSU organization that offers 22 club sports and over 400 participants.
“This could benefit our programs and maybe even help more clubs get started by having access to space we may not have access to on campus, such as a cricket pitch,” Wells said.
Renovations are projected to take several years to complete, with work being done in sections. The project chairs are also looking to the community for donations to help with the cost and are now accepting any funds offered.
Despite some pushback over the large cost, most community members shared their support for the plan. Taking the meeting to the public was the first step, so renovations can now begin.
