Carolyn Crayton Park softball field reopens after nearly $1 million renovation

Field No. 7 now features new lighting, renovated dugouts and improved bases following its six-month closure.

MACON, Georgia (41NBC/WMGT) — Local softball players can once again use Field No. 7 at Carolyn Crayton Park following major renovations. After a six-month closure, Softball Field No. 7 has officially reopened following nearly $1 million in renovations.

The funding came from the 2018 SPLOST.

The upgrades include new lighting, renovated dugouts and improved bases.

Macon-Bibb County Mayor Lester Miller says that after taking office and touring the county’s athletic fields, he realized significant improvements were needed.

“Through these gates and came down to these fields, that was very disappointing,” Miller said. “They had been abandoned for a while and needed new fences, concrete lighting and signage. We heard about all the great tournaments we have and great sports tourism. And how great things could be if we had people coming from the outside to spend money. It’s not about the outsiders; it’s about the youth in our community.”

Macon-Bibb County Recreation Director Robert Walker says this project was created with the community in mind.

“As I said before, I remember the amount of kids that were here in the evenings with parents, working on fielding, batting, and learning the game of softball and baseball,” Walker said. “So, this is going to be exciting for a lot of people here in Macon, just to be able to come down, and use these fields to play and practice on.”

Walker said making this field operational will make the process easier for parents and coaches.

“I’ve seen tournaments on the weekends end at 7, 8, 9 on a Sunday,” Walker said. “And when you have people here traveling here to play and have to work on Monday morning, getting those tournaments over early on a Sunday afternoon and get people back home is great.”

He says Field No. 7 is open to everyone.

“Of course we have a couple of others locked, but this one is always open,” he said. “And as before we expect to see youth teams, the community, and other people coming our using this field.”

The newly renovated field is now open for public use. You can find it at Carolyn Crayton Park, located at 150 Willie Smokie Glover Drive.