Nations baseball park to open fall 2011

The 16-field Nations Baseball Park is projected to open in the fall of next year, according to Newberry City Manager Keith Ashby.

The City of Newberry is currently in the process of accepting proposals for the $7 million dollar complex that will be built on 80 acres of land donated by Stefan Davis. The money for the project will be coming from bed taxes that are paid by those staying in hotels throughout Alachua County.

Newberry Recreation Director Richard Blalock estimated that the park will draw around 1,600 teams per year once it opens. If the park is a success, plans for a phase two are already in the works. The second phase of the complex would double the number of fields from 16 to 32, making it the largest baseball field in the country.

Ashby said that the park will stimulate the local economy and provide an opportunity for new businesses to come in, adding that he has been approached with ideas for hotels, restaurants and even a water park.

“It could drive a lot of economic spin-offs if it’s done right,” he said.

In addition to bringing in people from outside the area, Blalock noted that the field will also benefit local families because they will not have to travel to other fields.

“It’s going to put money back into the pockets of our families and the kids are going to have a state-of-the-art facility to play at,” he said.