Members of the Flint Hills Optimist club and the Emporia Recreation Center were on hand for the rededication of the new Optimist Baseball Diamonds Friday evening.
Renovations to the fields began in late 2017 after a series of compounding issues including sloping and drainage. In late November 2017, the Flint Hills Optimist Club donated $20,000 to assist with the renovation project.
Optimist Club Vice President Bryan Douglas calls the donation a gift to the community for future generations.
After the dedication concluded the first ball game on the new fields took place. Emporia Rec Commissioner Tom McEvoy says that game will be one the players can talk about for the rest of their lives.
Renovations to the field included new turf, scoreboards and a state of the art irrigation system.
Photos by Tagan Trahoon/KVOE News
{gallery}Optimist Dedication{/gallery}
