Project Office
Steve Taylor, Project Coordinator
907-459-1074
Luke Kline, Project Coordinator
907-459-1099
In addition to maintenance and supervision of our existing Parks and Recreation areas, we are working on numerous additional park development projects, a few of which are briefly listed below.
Ongoing Projects
Ball Field Assessment & Development Strategy
The development of the new South Davis Park is progressing well with our partners focusing efforts on their specific areas of the park.
Trees were planted along the north edge of the pond in celebration of Arbor Day!
New fencing & signage was installed this summer.
If you would like further information on the development of the South Davis Park, or would like to discuss this project with Parks and Recreation staff, please contact Steve Taylor at 459-1074, or email staylor@fnsb.us to be added to the project's email distribution list.
Assessment &
Development Strategy
The Ball Field Assessment and Development Strategy became an important tool in providing the borough and our softball and baseball leagues a guideline for improving communications, and improving services and programs. To review the consultant's recommendations, click on the link below:
Ball Field Assessment and Development Strategy Recommendations
Update
Recommendation # 1 - Partnership Development
In an effort to develop and sustain improved relationships and
improved programs:
-
FNSB is developing stronger connections with our softball and baseball leagues, primarily through the leagues' representatives to the newly-formed Interior Baseball Softball Alliance (IBSA).
-
FNSB is reviewing User Agreements to ensure that they are adequate management tools for both the borough's and our leagues' needs.
-
Through collaboration with IBSA, FNSB held an infield maintenance clinic in the summer of 2009 to improve the conditions of two baseball and one softball fields. The clinic also provided expertise on infield maintenance by the product manufacturer.
Recommendation # 2 - Field
Capacity
FNSB and IBSA are working cooperatively to begin capturing annual
statistics on the numbers of baseball and softball players and
teams, including field usage so that we can determine current field
capacity and projected growth for future ball field needs.
Recommendation # 3 -
Upgrades to Existing Facilities
The following ball field upgrades have been completed or are in the
planning stages:
-
With the assistance of IBSA, several leagues and FNSB worked collaboratively to purchase a container of infield conditioner for extensive ball field renovations.
-
In August 2009, IBSA and league volunteers improved Hez Ray 3 and Majors 2 ball fields with the addition of 2-3 pallets of infield conditioner per field. Marlin field was given a complete infield renovation with 8 pallets of infield conditioner. Additional renovations are planned for summer 2010.
-
FNSB repaired and installed new fences on Senior 1, Senior LL4, Senior LL5, Majors 2, Junior 3, Darin Franus, and Kiwanis ball fields this past summer.
-
The Golden Heart Softball Association upgraded all four dug-outs at the Hez Ray Complex this summer. Additional borough dug out repairs and improvements are planned for next summer.
-
Fence capping and padding are in the planning stages for summer of 2010.
-
IBSA is working with the borough to review field dimensional compliance and to help the leagues make adjustments accordingly.
Interior Baseball League youth volunteers in the renovation of Marlin Field.
Recommendation # 4 - New
Fields
According to the consultant's field capacity study, currently, there
is excess capacity on our borough ball fields. However,
through FNSB's and IBSA's ongoing research - as outlined in
Recommendation # 1 above - the need for new fields will continue to
be reviewed and considered on a regular basis.
Recommendation # 5 - Sports
Alliance
Since December of 2008, when the consultant first suggested the
value of a sports alliance, representatives of nearly all the
borough leagues came forward to create the Interior Baseball
Softball Alliance (IBSA).
Since then, IBSA has developed their mission and goals to assist the leagues and the borough in developing better programs and services for our community. IBSA's Mission Statement is given below.
"The Interior Baseball Softball Alliance's mission is to bring together all Interior Alaska's leagues and allied organizations to increase youth and adult baseball and softball participation and education, and to provide the highest quality ball fields and related services as possible. This will be accomplished through the sharing of knowledge and resources, the development of more efficient procedures, and strategizing on the most effective ways to decrease organizational and maintenance costs while maintaining the highest quality standards."
Recommendation # 6 - Indoor
Facility
Due to our extreme weather conditions and short summer seasons, it
is clear that there is justification for developing an indoor,
multi-use facility that can be used for baseball and softball, as
well as other sports, to help athletes increase their practice times
and improve their performance. Also, as the Ball Field
Assessment and Development Strategy states, a feasibility study
would better determine if such a facility can be supported in the
borough especially considering our recent economic times.
Parks and Recreation will continue to consider the prospect of an
indoor facility.
If you are interested in receiving further information on the Ball Field Assessment & Development Strategy, or wish to discuss this project with staff from Parks and Recreation, please contact Steve Taylor at 459-1074 or staylor@fnsb.us