By Robert Hudson

The Selma Times-Journal

After a year where all of its youth baseball programs played their entire seasons on the road, the city of Valley Grande knew something had to be done. This motivated the city to build three fields for its youth teams: one large field and two for Little League baseball.

“As far back as last playing season we knew it was a need,” said Tom Lee, mayor of Valley Grande.

Lee said the city first had to deal with other mandatory matters, such as building two fire stations, before funding could be allocated to build the complex, but the complex was always planned.

“There was always the idea to do it after the funds became available,” Lee said.

Lee said the local Little League director and parents, among others, approached the city about building the fields and, in exchange, volunteers would maintain the park.

“Myself and the city council kicked the idea around for six or seven months to make sure we were not in over our heads,” Lee said. “We looked at some sample prices and decided we could afford a triplex.”

The city would put forth a $150,000 bid to do the dirt, fence and sod work for the complex.

Lee said after the installation of a water system, paving of the parking lots and the building of batting cages, the total cost came out to be about $180,000, which he said is pretty cheap for a complex of this type. Lee said the funding for the fields came in the form of a one-cent sales-tax increase which helped completely pay off the fields within the first year. Lee also said the city will get $25,000 back in the form of a regional development grant.

“It’s a good use of taxpayer money, and what better way to spend it than on the kids,” Lee said.

League director Richard Davis said it’s great to see such support for the children.

“The mayor and the citizens worked hard and did everything they could to build the three fields,” Davis said. “It’s a nice facility.”

Lee gives a lot of credit to those who help maintain the fields.

“The parents and volunteers have done a super good job of maintaining the fields,” Lee said. “They cut, line and water the fields. From a city standpoint, we’ve had to pay for little to no maintenance.The fields also create revenue, because we’ve had people from Marbury and Demopolis come here for games and go to local restaurants and businesses.”