A Few Simple Changes Will Mean A World of Difference

Today, I spoke in front of the County Council in support of both moving the baseball field complex to Kleymeyer Park across from Garvin Park and for saving Roberts Stadium. I believe that my plan is simple and I want to outline it for you the viewer of my blog so that everyone will understand just how simple this plan is to make EVERYONE happy.


1. The County Council must make David Dunn & the EVCB commit to moving the ballfield complex to Kleymeyer Park. Why? For several reasons. 1. The ballfields will be able to draw from the nostalgic baseball history that nearby neighbor Bosse Field has created. Furthermore, it will act as a stimulus project for First Avenue, Diamond Ave, and Main St. It will also be just a little ways down Main Street from the new hotel that will be next to the new arena. Lastly, the current plan wants to take advantage of retail down the Lloyd Expressway from Wesselman Park. Well, this complex will just require going down Main St. or First Avenue and then down the same Lloyd Expressway. In fact, everything good about the current plan will still be there for my plan, including the greenway, nearby basketball and handball courts, as well as putt putt and arcade games. Kleymeyer Park must be the location for this project.

2. David Dunn and his architects MUST go back to the drawing board and design these parks to look like vintage baseball fields. Keep in mind, these are simple cosmetic architecture changes, nothing out of the budget and certainly nothing drastic... Here are some examples..

Mini Fenway & Wrigley.. http://www.insidesocal.com/tomhoffarth/archives/2010/08/more-on-where-w.html

Rosenblatt Stadium

before: http://steveadamsomaha.tripod.com/Jim_Burnett_Aphotos/RosenblattZoo2.jpg

after: http://www.momaha.com/apps/pbcsi.dll/bilde?Site=OW&Date=20100610&Category=NEWS01&ArtNo=100619989&Ref=AR&maxw=490&maxh=275

Memorial Stadium

before: http://imagecache5.art.com/LRG/6/672/4UWC000Z.jpg

after: http://ripkenfoundation.org.ismmedia.com/ISM3/thumbcache/c31e17d035ddf6bd80d0fbfe6b7b9109.300.jpg

As you can see, there's nothing overly expensive about these designs, yet their images will draw in many, many, many more visitors to Evansville!

3. Evansville MUST make a good faith effort to Save Roberts Stadium! On this blog I have mentioned 7 proposals and I will be adding my 8th one ( a botanical garden) today. I firmly believe that if we get a good faith effort we will find a proper and productive use for this historic venue and we can save the $1.5 million demolition funds at the same time.

Why will these 3 simple steps work...

1. It will draw more tourists to the field as well as retain those projected to come to the current proposal.
2. It will make Roberts Stadium supporters like me happy while bringing in even more revenue and tourists.
3. It will reduce the amount of people opposed to this project. In fact, Marsha Abell, who has expressed her opposition to this project, has said she likes my location.
4. Those who want something natural in that area could possible get their wish with something like a botanical garden.
5. Kleymeyer Park is closer to a Recovery Zone than Wesselman Woods. The area desperately needs something to come and revitalize it.
6. David Dunn still gets to be the leader of the ballfields project and most of his work will transfer from his location to my location.
7. First Ave, Diamond Ave, Main Street, and Garvin Park will be stimulated versus nothing around the Wesselman Park landlocked area.
8. It will bring more people into the new downtown hotel.
9. This project will qualify for the exact same funding as the current proposal.
10. This plan will be eligible to break ground as soon as funding is available while the current plan will have to wait for Roberts Stadium to close.
11. Kleymeyer Park is run by the Parks Department, the same group who is overseeing the current proposed location. With my plan, the existing maintenance costs of Kleymeyer Park would be combined into the maintenance costs of this proposal, thus keeping the Parks Department budget a little lower.
12. Funding for my plan would cut the $1.5 million demolition costs of Roberts Stadium as well as lower the funding needed to construct parking since there already is some next to Kleymeyer Park. Therefore I believe my plan would be cheaper than $17.5 million.

If the county council, David Dunn, Mayor Weinzapfel, and the County Commissioners are willing to take these 3 simple steps, I believe we will have a better plan that will make everyone happy! For this reason, I'm asking for your support of this project as well.