The City of Mount Vernon has initiated improvements at the Babe Ruth baseball diamond in Memorial Park, beginning with the demolition of the old press box. The City Council has allocated approximately $750,000 for these upgrades.
"As part of our parks master plan we're going to be removing all of these old structures and putting up brand new, well branded parks," Mayor Matt Starr said in a video update on Facebook on March 6.
According to the social media post, Starr said that site preparation work will commence this spring. Upon completion, the park will feature a centralized concession stand, restroom facility, and press box area similar to those found in other parks. The Babe Ruth field will remain intact.
Starr further explained that site preparation must be completed before construction on new structures can begin in the fall. The city anticipates that the new facilities will be ready for use by the 2026 season. Leagues have been informed about the construction work and potential disruptions at the park. Despite ongoing work, visitors will still have access to Harmony Playground. The city is also exploring naming rights and grants to support funding for both development and maintenance at the park.
The future plans for Memorial Park include replacing existing tennis courts with new ones and adding pickleball courts. An exercise area for adults is also planned. Starr mentioned their intention to transform it into a destination park offering amenities for everyone.
In response to comments on Facebook, residents inquired about improvements to other parks, expressing interest in allocating funds towards enhancing smaller parks. Concerns were raised about flooding issues affecting parks and dugouts, which residents hope will be addressed when fields are redesigned into a cloverleaf layout.
