Those registering this season for the city’s youth baseball league will be the first to play on the newly constructed $1.5 million fields at the Harker Heights Community Park.
“Parks and Recreation is relieved and very excited abut the turn-out of the end product at this facility,” Parks and Recreation Director Jerry Bark said. “It is an opportunity for us to showcase another quality product that we are able to construct for them. I think our citizens are going to be happy when they get out there and walk around.”
The new addition at the Harker Heights Community Park includes four 200 foot baseball fields, an extension of the walking trail, more parking and a second concession stand.
“It kind of has that feel of the Little League World Series,” Bark said.
Spectators can watch games from a hillside outside the fence by accessing the area through the walking trail, or they can walk between the fields and view the games from behind a netted backstop, Bark said.
Registration for the baseball league ends Monday. Children will gt their first experience on the fields during a player assessment March 5. A date for the grand opening of the complex has not been set.
“We are looking at the end of March and the first of April for having the opening for the facility,” Bark said. “But the date hasn’t been announced yet.”
Since April 2009 when the first phase of the Harker Heights Community Park was finished, the baseball league’s games were played on the park’s four 300 foot softball fields, with portable fences marking off the 200 foot length.
The new fields will reduce the stress on the adult softball fields, Bark said.
“I think when the families come and watch their kids play baseball, they are going to be pleasantly surprised by how nice it is going to be,” Bark said.
by Mason Canales
Killeen Daily Herald