SEPTEMBER 17, 2004
City calls for some relief
Politicians asking for county funds to fix East Field
By MAURY THOMPSON
thompson@poststar.com

T.J. HOOKER - THE POST STAR The seats and bleachers at East Field on Dix Avenue in Glens Falls are in a state of disrepair. Renovations would take care of this and other issues at the complex if a county-funded initiative goes through.

GLENS FALLS -- Hosting the National Junior College Athletic Association baseball World Series next year is evidence of the expanded potential for East Field if the facility is upgraded, government officials said.

City 1st Ward Supervisor William Brown and 1st Ward Councilman John "Jack" Diamond jointly issued a proposal Wednesday calling for Warren County to subsidize a five-year improvement plan at the city-owned stadium that would include new bleachers and locker rooms.

"It's a jewel in the city and county that's untapped," Brown said.

Renovating the facility could be a catalyst for expanded use, not just for athletic events, but also for outdoor concerts and festivals, officials said.

"There's some opportunities there," Diamond said.

Brown said that they had not yet calculated a cost for the renovations, but he said an initial engineering study would cost about $15,000.

The facility was built in 1980 to accommodate a minor league baseball team affiliated with the Chicago White Sox.

The field currently hosts games for the Glens Falls Golden Eagles, a collegiate-level amateur baseball team, and the Green Jackets, a semi-professional football team.

Much of the facility is in deteriorating condition and needs to be replaced, Brown said.

The county spent $50,000 this spring to improve the field's playing surface, and that investment has already yielded results, Brown said.

"If a $50,000 investment can bring that kind of event," he asked, referring to the Junior College World Series, "what do you think a couple of a million dollars could do ?"

Brown said that there appears to be support on the county Board of Supervisors, at least for the $15,000 engineering study.

"We don't have it in hand, but we believe it is at arm's reach," he said.

Glens Falls Mayor Robert Regan said he would support making improvements to East Field, provided the funding was in addition to a $50,000 annual payment the county already makes for maintenance and renovation of city recreational facilities that are open to all country residents.

"Just as long as they don't take it from one pocket and put it in another, that's OK," he said.

Board of Supervisors Chairman William Thomas said that he likely would support additional county funding for East Field, particularly in light of Wednesday's announcement about the Junior College World Series.

"That was very exciting news to me," he said.

East Field improvements would be a natural tie-in with other initiatives in Glens Falls, such as the city's application for a grant from the New York Main Street program to renovate buildings on Glen Street, Thomas said.

County Budget Officer Nicholas Caimano, however, suggested that Brown and Diamond approach Regan about using a portion of the city's share of county occupancy tax revenues to improve East Field.

"Obviously, this is aligned with tourism," he said. "East Field being renovated is a need, and I think in time it will benefit the entire county."

City Economic Development Director James Martin suggested that changing the configuration of the bleachers would improve the appearance of the field, as well as its usefulness.

"I think that renovating that facility can not only be a functional aspect of hosting activities and concerts, it can also be an architectural aspect," he said.