At least two Chatham County recreation facilities are being upgraded this summer and fall. Prep Sports Report confirmed this week with Chatham County Parks and Recreation Director Steve Proper.
The Ambuc Park project involves the complete redesign and rebuild for the baseball/softball complex on Sallie Mood Drive next to the Aquatic Center in Savannah. Meanwhile, on Wilmington Island, Charlie Brooks Park is getting an expansion and facelift with the addition of fields being its main highlight.
“The Ambuc Complex was originally constructed around 1976. The Building was in bad shape, so part of this project was to demolish the existing building and build a new Concession/Restroom Building,” wrote Proper in an email exchange with PSR. “The other three fields will be renovated, laser graded and new fencing. There will be additional paved parking added. Ambucs and the Downtown Rotary Club are going to raise funds for a Handicapped Accessible Playground at (the new) Ambuc Complex.”
“This is the first type field that will be designed for Physically and Mentally Challenged youth and adults in the County.”
Scheduled roughly for a December 2021/January 2022 completion date, the new Ambuc Complex will include three standard (dirt-infields, dugouts, outfield fencing) Little League diamonds, and one field specially designed for the inclusion of handicapped youth and adult citizens in baseball/softball/etc.
“The project consists of the renovation of upgrading the baseball complex located on Sallie Mood Drive, south of the Aquatic Center,” reads a talking point from Chatham County meeting minutes collected on February 26, 2021.
“The existing fields are to be renovated and one of the fields upgraded to a ‘Miracle’ type field to meet the needs of children with disabilities. Included in the project is a new Concession Stand, Storage and Restroom building. Bids were received on January 29, 2021, and are currently being analyzed.”
In this case, the “Miracle type field” is a Challenger Field, similar to the one built in Effingham County thanks to Major Leaguer and South Effingham graduate Josh Redick.
All four fields at Ambuc will include lighting, and the parking lot for the new complex, as well as the neighboring Aquatic Center, will be repaved and expanded.
At Brooks, construction is underway and has been for several months.
“The project adds a new baseball field, multipurpose field and additional parking for the facility,” read the minutes from Feb. 26 concerning Charlie Brooks Park on the island. “Construction began in January 2021.”
Follow Travis on Twitter/Instagram @JaudonSports. Contact him at travisLjaudon@gmail.com.
Photo from Chatham County Parks & Recreation.
