Just how close is the City of Great Bend to pulling the trigger on placing artificial turf on the baseball and softball fields at the Great Bend Sports Complex? The budget plans for 2019 would indicate close. The City transferred $1,300,000 into a fund for the artificial turf, but has yet to receive confirmation from the City Council to go forward with the upgrade.
George Kolb served as Interim City Administrator prior to Kendal Francis taking over the permanent position on July 30. Kolb noted at the budget session in July that not many municipal ballfields have artificial turf.
George Kolb Audio
When the Sports Complex opened in 2012, the master plan for the facility included football and soccer fields to the west. The 2019 recommended budget also has $409,350 allotted for potential improvements to the facility outside of the turf.
The thought of placing turf on the infields at the Sports Complex is to keep the facility competitive with attracting tournaments to Great Bend. The Class 2-1A State Baseball Tournament and KCAC Conference baseball and softball tournaments are contracted for one more year at the Sports Complex.
Kolb mentioned the City Council will have to decide how the City uses the funding for sports venues.
George Kolb Audio
Community Coordinator Christina Hays says that the KCAC will possibly find a new facility for their conference tournaments following the 2019 season if the Sports Complex does not receive turf.
USD 428 makes use of the fields for their baseball and softball teams from Great Bend High School. In the 2019 Capital Improvement Plan, the City has $520,000 coming from USD 428 for the artificial turf. Neither the school district or the Board of Education has approved any amount. The Great Bend Recreation Commission would assist with the annual maintenance of the facility. All the funding still needs to be approved by City Council, USD 428 Board of Education, and Great Bend Recreation Commission.
There are talks of adding an outdoor basketball court at Brit Spaugh Park with an anonymous donor willing to pay half of the expenses.