The Vienna Times Vienna, Illinois & Johnson County News, Sports and Happenings
By Mike Kolb
The ballpark in Vienna has received a significant facelift this winter. A number of upgrades and updates have been occurring in the cold months as part of the ballpark improvement mindset that started with the City of Vienna getting new safer bleachers.
The improvements continued forward with projects like fixing the fencing on field 2. When Max Hook was asked what could be done to improve the ballpark he didn’t need to think on the answer, “We need better, safer batting cages.” The large facility was built over the winter with money that was initially paid forward by Vienna, with donations from the Johnson City Youth League, Vienna High School and Vienna Grade School helping to reduce the cost to the city.
The structure for the new batting cages has now been built. Currently turf waits to be rolled out and netting needs to be put up. According to Hook it should be ready for public use “by late February. If the weather holds people can be down here using it.”
One of the perks of the new facility, which has a tin roof, is that it will be available for use year round. Also, if the park is able to secure the right netting for it, golfers will be able to use the batting cage to practice their stroke as well.
The old cage, which served the community for nearly 25 years was becoming unsafe. Upgrading the facility couldn’t have come at a better time.
