FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
FORT
MYERS, Fla. (December 5,
2002) – Lee County is applying for state historical funds to develop a
restoration plan for Terry Park Stadium and possibly add a “Spring Training”
Museum – the first of its kind in the country – in the old ticket office.
The Board of Lee
County Commissioners will be asked to approve the grant application – for
$13,270 – at its regular meeting Wednesday (Dec. 10).
The funds would come from the Florida Department of State, Division of
Historical Resources.
The county proposes
to return the ballpark to its historical architecture and feature an on-site
museum that illustrates the history of Spring Training in south Florida and the
impact the game has had on the growth and development of the area.
Terry Park Stadium
is among the oldest remaining Major League Baseball Spring Training sites in
Florida. The ballpark was built in 1925 on land donated by Tootie
McGregor Terry to host the Philadelphia Athletics, owned and managed by Connie
Mack. In subsequent years, the
facility hosted the Cleveland Indians, Pittsburgh Pirates and Kansas City
Royals. Ty Cobb, Babe Ruth, Willie
Stargell, Roberto Clemente, George Brett, Jimmy Foxx, Bob Feller and Bob Wagner
are just a few of the ballplayers who played at Terry Park.
The park would
continue to host baseball activities such as the Roy Hobbs World Series, the
Gene Cusic Classic, the Amateur Athletic Union (AAU) tournament, the
International Painters Union Tournament and others.
The county would match the$13,270 to develop the restoration plan.
The Terry Park
Complex, at 3410 Palm Beach Boulevard in Fort Myers, also includes the
headquarters for the Lee County Parks & Recreation Department.
Lee County’s Parks & Recreation Department maintains and operates 3,500 acres of developed park land, 14 centers, 9 pools, five boat ramps, three Gulf beach parks, one lakefront beach, 76 beach accesses, 60 tennis courts, 73 ballfields, and 13 preserves. The department also manages the more than 10,000 acres of environmentally sensitive lands the county has purchased in the last six years through its Conservation 2020 Program. Its fiscal year 2003 operating budget is $18.3 million. The Parks System gained national accreditation last year and was a 2002 National Gold Medal Award Finalist.