By Barbara Davis | Staff Writer
Ford Park Entertainment Complex General Manager Claudio Oliveria stood before the elected officials of Jefferson County Commissioners Court on March 21 to detail why spending $1.5 million for turf at the taxpayer-subsidized venue was not only supported by other county administrators, but also by the community served by the Ford Park Baseball Fields on a regular basis.
“We’re in the position now where the most recent replacement was 2015 at Field One and, prior to that, were two other instances where some of the fields were replaced in 2007 and 2012,” said Oliveria, who also informed the court that there is an 8-10 year integrity, or anticipated shelf-life, of the turf.
The turf is well-utilized, Oliveria explained.
“It’s a thriving business, and I think all of you are aware of the economic impact Ford Fields brings to the region – which was $3.5 million over the last 12 months,” Oliveria added.
Southeast Texas Baseball Academy’s Morgan Walker stated that the baseball dollars brought into Southeast Texas are highly coveted and highly competitive to continually collect. Ford Park is competing for tournaments against Lake Charles, Louisiana, with 16 new turf fields and Houston with brand new complexes opening, Walker said.
“The one thing I hear in the background is that Ford Park is getting a little older and a little gray, and I think this is time to strike back, get brand new turf, and put us back on the map,” Walker said.
He added Ford Park Fields bring in an average of 80–100 teams per tournament and will host close to 300 teams in April.
It was discussed that capital expenditures were in the budget and recent repairs were made to the pitching mounds on all 12 fields.
Oliveria told The Examiner that roughly $70,000 in repairs were recently made due to safety concerns, but that replacement would include brand new turf on the mounds.
“We did get a quote of about $1.5 million to replace the turf on all 12 fields,” said Oliveria, if all of the fields are done at once.
The Ford Park GM expressed that timing will be a concern given that the fields are in use 6–7 days a week, but that there is a pocket of time in late July/early August before the start of the fall season, or late December/early January before the start of the spring season, where the potential to allocate the 30-45 days needed to complete could be set aside.
Pct. 2 Commissioner Cary Erickson expressed his support for updating the turf at Ford Park, stating that it’s past time and that baseball is the best thing going for Ford Park. Pct. 4 Commissioner Everette “Bo” Alfred agreed.
County Judge Jeff Branick asked the purchasing agent to get with the county attorney and look into the details of moving forward.
With the county administration given a clearer direction as to what to look at for Ford Park’s future, the county judge and commissioners then approved Hotel Occupancy Tax allocation recommendations for Spring 2023:
• Edison Plaza Museum requested $1,459 for advertising the Edison Museum and was awarded $1434;
• Ladies in Leather Motorcycle Parade and Rally requested $30,000 for their convention/rally and were awarded $15,000;
• Lion Hearted requested $4,555 for a sanctioned amateur boxing event, and were awarded $2,000;
• Beaumont Heritage Society requested and was awarded $1,637 for advertising the Chambers House and John J. French Museum brochures;
• Beaumont Botanical Gardens requested $30,000 for the beach/park on the waterway funding, and were awarded $15,000;
• Southeast Texas Arts Council requested $8,000 and were awarded $2,500 for the printing of ‘Off Ramp’ Magazine;
• Downtown Beaumont Cultural Arts District requested and were awarded $1,000 for pre-promotion and advertising for Make Music Day;
• Southeast Texas Baseball Academy requested and was awarded $26,500 for baseball tournaments;
• City of Port Arthur requested $32,568.47 for beach/park on waterway-Pleasure Island - 25 picnic tables, and were awarded $25,000;
• Texas Energy Museum requested $5,705 for advertising and were awarded $3,010;
• Golden Triangle Audubon Society requested and was awarded $4,200 for Sabine Woods brush hogging;
• Saltwater Anglers League of Texas Club requested and was awarded $1,500 for pre-promotion of Salt Summer Classic;
• Port Arthur Convention and Visitor’s Bureau (CVB) requested and was awarded $6,000 for a fishing tournament;
• Port Arthur and Beaumont CVBs requested and was awarded $15,655 for co-op trade shows showcasing Jefferson County Tourism;
• KVLU requested $2,000 for pre-promotion and advertising podcast and each cards and was awarded $1,000;
• Lamar State College Port Arthur requested and received $1,500 for pre-promotion of Sabine Showdown and Trade Show;
• The Art Studio, Inc requested $1,100 for Printing of ‘Studio Ink’ and was awarded $800;
• Port Arthur Historical Society (dba Museum of the Gulf Coast) requested $6,825 for pre-promotion and advertising billboard for the museum and were awarded $4,000;
• Stars Over Texas requested and was awarded $500 for tournament fee to Gulf Coast Super Six NIT and well as $500 for tournament fee to 2023 USFA Western Nationals;
• Art Museum of Southeast Texas requested $8,850 for pre-promotion and advertising of their fall/winter 2023 exhibit and were awarded $4,800;
• Peak Fighting LLC requested $5,000 of Peak Fighting MMA and were awarded $2,500.
The total of requested grants was $195,054.47, while $136,036 was awarded.
A full agenda and a streaming video of Commissioner's Court is available online at co.jefferson.tx.us.