Local parent pushes for baseball field renovations at Paul Eames Sports Complex

ALBANY, Ga. – The baseball fields at Paul Eames Sports Complex have been locked behind this gate after thefts earlier in the year damaged the field. Now, one local parent is working to restore it to its former glory.

Christopher Jones is like any parent of a high school athlete, he just wants to see his son play ball on the best possible conditions…

That was not possible this year for a number of reasons.

“There were just some conditions that were just unfavorable for the athletes, such as we just did not have working lights. So all the games were held at four p.m. We couldn’t play any doubleheaders here. Also the restrooms did not have any running water,” said Christopher Jones, local parent.

Paul Eames Complex made headlines earlier in the year when three people were charged with destruction of property by ripping copper out of the park.

That’s why Jones went before the likes of the Albany City Commission and the Dougherty County School System, to get revitalization efforts underway.

And, after touring the facilities with Albany Parks and Recreation Monday morning, progress is being made, but work still needs to be done…

“…Just unfortunately, we wouldn’t be able to see those things in action until the electrical problem is resolved. We also discussed the future plans to actually make the renovations to fix the issue with the copper,” he said.

Jones’ son plays high school baseball at Paul Eames, and like any other parent, he just wants the best for his son.

“My son, including a lot of the other student athletes, are definitely thriving and have the potential to play baseball at the collegiate level. So I would just like them to have the best opportunities that can be placed in front of them, such as having quality facilities,” he said.

And, what was once a sports complex seemingly robbed of everything could be on to a brand new look.

“Once those necessary upgrades are completed, then we’ll talk about having a working scoreboard and working lights. So those are kind of the minimal things that we’re looking for as we look forward to the start of next baseball season,” he said.

As Jones continues to work with the city, the county, and the school system to restore the baseball fields here at Paul Eames Sports Complex, he wants to make sure the Dougherty county students have the best place possible to play ball.

In that initial robbery of the Paul Eames Sports Complex, damages were estimated to be over two hundred thousand dollars.

Brian Roche reporting.

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