Posted on March 26, 2006
Lengths of rusty fence skirt along the outfields of Veteran’s Memorial Stadium at 395 S. High St. The two fields of the stadium serve the needs of JMU baseball and softball players, as well as the local Harrisonburg baseball team, the Turks.
But the stadium is about to undergo significant change: flattening and reconstruction.
“[The stadium] is kind of broken down,” junior Trevor Luks said, coming out of one of Veteran’s Memorial Stadium’s fields Friday afternoon.
A $5 million budget amendment for initial stadium construction costs has been approved by the Virginia House of Delegates and awaits Gov. Timothy M. Kaine’s signature.
“Everything should be ready to go by April 4,” said Delegate Matthew J. Lohr, R-26th district.
Part of the old Harrisonburg High School, annexed by JMU in 2005, the stadium will be replaced by a newer, more efficient baseball and softball complex. The original stadium was built nearly 60 years ago and named in honor of local men who fought and died in World War II. The exact dimensions of the new facility, and its completion date, are currently unknown.
“The money that’s been approved by the General Assembly will only put the university in the position of getting the ball rolling,” JMU spokesperson Don Egle said. “Ultimately, it depends on the architectural plans.”
Besides being a new facility, the biggest known advantage comes in the form of lighting. Currently, Veteran’s Memorial Stadium lacks outdoor lights for night games.
“Not everyone can come to a baseball game at two and three in the afternoon,” said Bob Wease, owner and manager of the Turks. “It’s bound to increase attendance to all the baseball games.”
Egle agreed.
“Initially, there was a lot of talk about renovating the old stadium,” Egle said. “But the university determined it would be more in [its] interest to rebuild than to renovate, because of the state of the current stadium.”
Public donations paid for the current stadium’s construction in 1948, but the new stadium’s funding situation is slightly different. Lohr said although the House of Delegates had to appropriate funding for the new stadium, all the money comes from non-general funds, which are not drawn from tax dollars. Exact costs for rebuilding the stadium are as of yet unknown.
“People get frustrated when taxpayers’ dollars are used for recreational activities,” Lohr said. “And that’s something this new project avoids entirely.”
There are some worries about the new stadium.
“I think it’ll be good, but as a JMU club softball player, I don’t know where we’ll be able to practice and hold tournaments,” said Liz Pegnato, sophomore and club softball player.
Egle said, “A number of folks have asked the university if the name is going to change.
The Memorial Stadium honors veterans, and the university is committed to doing just that. We will be in no way changing the name of the new stadium.”
Many are optimistic about the new facility.
“It’s got to be a plus situation for everyone,” Wease said. “It’s going to be great for the JMU baseball team and for the community in general. Everything’s going to be new and more enjoyable for people.”
