parks for new rec season

By BETH LAKEY

Staff Writer

March 28, 2000 10 PM

Commemorating the open of a new summer league baseball season, new scoreboards will be added at 15 city baseball parks.

Members of the Troy City Council were given an update on the activity in the Park and Recreation Department Monday night.

Park and Recreation Director Dan Smith talked about recent work and additions as well as plans for the near future.

"This is one of our busiest times of the year," Smith said.

With baseball and softball practices just getting underway, the department is waiting to put some of the hard work and new equipment to the test.

Possibly the most exciting addition to the ball parks will be new scoreboards, Smith said.

Coca Cola has committed to installing new scoreboards at the 15 ball parks before Opening Day, which will be April 8. The state-of-the-art, electronic scoreboards will be going up today through Friday.

But, those aren’t the only changes.

Two new batting cages were recently installed at Franklin Park.

A new parking lot and improved dugouts will be available when parents and players start arriving at Academy Park. And, a new playground is in the works for that park, as well.

Playground equipment at Murphree Park recently got a fresh coat of paint thanks to some Troy State University business management students. The class was given a small budget to make repairs and will be adding two handicap-accessible swings.

Smith said the parks and different programs are expected to offer the citizens of Troy quite a variety this spring and beyond.

In other business, the council:

· Accepted a $39,800 bid from Mount Scrap Material Company of Montgomery for a horizontal baler to replacae the one lost when the Recycling Center was destroyed by fire.

Bill Rice Sr., who coordinated the city’s recycling program, said the lost baler was insured and he hopes "this fire won’t cost the taxpayers any money" because of funds in his budget and insurance policies.

"We are coping," Rice said.

· Voted to continue the city’s summer feeding program.

· Was told by Mayor Jimmy Lunsford that the resurfacing of Sanders Road should be complete soon and repairs to the railroad crossing on that street have been completed.

· Heard the Franklin Street extension may be put back into the Alabama Department of Transportation’s five-year plan.

"That is a critical need for our city," Lunsford said.