Young Washington County athletes, supported by their families and fans, teamed up with Washington County officials to break ground on new athletic fields today. Softball and baseball players as well as cheerleaders from Boones Creek Elementary School, helped celebrate the launch of the new fields by playing catch and cheering on the start of construction.
The two softball and two baseball fields, located adjacent to Boones Creek Elementary School, are being built thanks to the cooperative efforts of the Washington County Commission and the Washington County Board of Education.
The Washington County Commission approved spending $5.2 million in capital funding at Boones Creek Elementary School (inclusive of American Recovery Plan Act (ARPA) funds and capital project funds) to build the new ballfields, during its regular monthly meeting October 24, 2022. The Washington County School Board has recognized the value of allocating $1 million in educational capital funds for the project.
“This is fantastic,” said Washington County Mayor Joe Grandy. “I can’t wait to see the fields completed. I look forward to all of us getting together back here and saying ‘play ball’ this fall.” Grandy said that working together, in a spirit of cooperation, achieves the best recreational opportunities for the community.
“This is something the kids at Boones Creek K-8 have not had so we are pleased to be able to get what we asked for,” said Washington County Board of Education Chair Mike Masters. “We look forward to continuing communications opportunities with the Washington County Commission.”
The fields will include dugouts, restrooms, fencing, concession stands and artificial turf infields.
Preston Construction won the bid to build the project. They are anticipating completion in October. Preston plans to cut a road in for service vehicles and heavy equipment to access the site. Thomas Weems Architect is the project’s architecture firm.
