Sport Complex Safety Addressed

An ongoing issue regarding public safety at the Jackson River Sport Complex was addressed during Covington City Council’s Tuesday night work session.
Director of Public Works and Parks and Recreation Allen Dressler discussed the issue and presented solutions he has to this ongoing problem.
“As most of you folks are aware, since the development of the Jackson River Sport Complex and the cloverleaf ball fields, over the last few years we’ve experienced some balls flying around over there,” Dressler said.
He continued, “Not anything that we’ve done wrong, this is a problem across the country.”
Dressler then said that recognizing the change of equipment and changes in the game and the amount of tournaments being played at the complex, he has come up with solutions to decrease the amount of balls flying and potentially hitting spectators.
“I was looking at the backstop fencing at each of the four ball fields and creating a 45-degree angle over the backstop that catches the balls coming directly back. The intent is to also move home plate back. I got some room within the rules of the game that I can move home plate back a little bit,” Dressler said.
With the public bid that was received from Powers Fence Company, based out of Roanoke, Dressler stated that the cost for them to take care of fencing and other issues at the four fields would be $44,500.
“At the same time, we put out a public bid for safety netting around the common areas — when I mention the common areas, when you walk into the complex and get to the dugouts, from each one of the dugouts toward the pressbox area,” Dressler said.
The bid from Burbank Sport Nets, based out of Jacksonville, Fla., was in the amount of $26,634.
The total of the two bids for safety improvements at the Jackson River Sport Complex’s cloverleaf ball fields run a total of $71,134.
“I stand before you tonight on bended knee, requesting an appropriation for $71,134 to address the safety concerns of the Jackson River Sport Complex,” Dressler said to council.
At the conclusion of Dressler’s presentation, council resolved to have this proposal further discussed at next week’s regular meeting of city council.