HomeMy WebLinkAboutJan 10 Courtney Fields donation
City of Edina • 4801 W. 50th St. • Edina, MN 55424
Contact: Debbie Townsend, Communications Coordinator
Phone 952-826-0396 • dtownsend@EdinaMN.gov • EdinaMN.gov
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
New Lights, Safety Netting Coming to Courtney Fields
Edina, Minn., Jan.10, 2018 – Modern lights and safety netting to protect spectators will be added
to the showcase baseball field at Courtney Fields in Braemar Park, thanks to a grant and a generous
donation from the Edina Baseball Association (EBA).
Hennepin County Youth Sports awarded $139,800 to Edina for the improvements as part of its 2018
Facility Awards. EBA donated $100,000 toward the project on Field No. 1.
“The Edina Baseball Association has been a great partner for the City,” said Edina Recreation
Supervisor Tiffany Bushland. “We are honored and excited for their investment that will vastly
improve the safety and experience of spectators and players at Courtney Fields.”
Courtney Fields, 7351 McCauley Trail, was built in 1973 and still has the original lighting from 1975.
The lights have exceeded their life expectancy and have degraded to the point where they impair
play on many evenings and pose a problem for the highest-level participants such as Edina High
School and American Legion teams.
The new lights will not only improve lighting for players and spectators, they will use about 35
percent less energy and can be controlled remotely via the Internet or mobile app. The LED
technology includes better directional control, reducing light pollution to the surrounding area.
The new netting around the backstop and behind the dugouts at Field 1 will provide additional safety
for players and spectators. The field is part of a four-field complex positioned around a center
building. Field No. 1 is primarily used by older participants, who commonly hit foul balls that soar
into the other fields and viewing areas. Several years ago, netting was added to help prevent this, but
the existing poles were not strong enough to safely support the netting. The new lighting poles will
anchor netting that extends 20 to 30 feet above the existing fencing, drastically reducing stray balls
and improving safety for everyone at the complex.
The improvements, along with the immaculately maintained fields, will help Courtney Fields remain
one of the premier youth baseball facilities in the state and continue to draw regional tournaments.
EBA’s donation is part of an ongoing partnership with the City to improve youth sports facilities. The
EBA, which served 1,135 participants in 2017, has assisted with improvements at Countryside Park
and Garden Park. The association also funded the replacement of batting cages at Courtney Fields
and helped make Braemar Field a reality, among numerous other community efforts.
For more information, contact Bushland at 952-826-0432 or tbushland@EdinaMN.gov.
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