East Macon Rec Center renovations to help little league team

MACON, Georgia (41NBC/WMGT) – The East Macon rec center is getting a makeover. All of the improvements are ideas neighbors gave to the county.

Years ago East Macon was known for its little league baseball team, but once the Ocmulgee National Monument expanded and the fields started to age, the Ocmulgee Little League wasn’t as popular. Macon-Bibb leaders heard residents’ concerns and are putting $300,000 into the old rec center to update the current baseball fields and build a new t-ball field. 

“It used to be one of the biggest youth baseball programs in East Macon,” recalled Wader Campbell, the President of the East Macon Youth League. 

Campbell remembers the glory days well.

“We used to win. We used to win a lot back in the day,” said Campbell.

Campbell played on the fields starting at 5 years old. He played a number of positions including pitcher, catcher and shortstop. 

“It’s the same paint, same field, same fencing,” explained Campbell.

He said he shared his playground with about 500 other kids at the time, but the old fields don’t attract the same number of people anymore.

“A lot of people [are going] to better looking facilities and they’re bypassing East Macon to go to West Macon, North Macon, Freedom Park. Places like that,” explained Campbell.

Macon-Bibb County put together an advisory board in Fall 2014 to hear what East Macon residents wanted to see in the park.

“New t-ball field, renovating the existing three baseball fields, new sidewalks, new renovated concession stand,” explained Macon-Bibb Parks and Recreation Interim Director Reggie Moore.

Pink markers in the middle of dirt paths show where the sidewalks will be. The t-ball field will be behind the old baseball fields. Moore said everything except the scoreboard will be new.

“They always say there’s nothing to do in East Macon. The fields are bad. Do something about it and we’ll come play,” said Campbell.

A change Campbell is happy to see.

“You got a lot of kids getting in trouble. You can look at the news and count how many kids younger than 21, they’re getting involved in crime early because they don’t have anything to do,” explained Campbell.

The rec center upgrades are a home run for East Macon.

“If you have a new park, you create new excitement which is going to help them grow their attendance in the future,” said Moore.

Macon-Bibb SPLOST dollars are paying for these improvements. Moore hopes to have it finished in time for the little league’s Spring season.