It was a great opening day for the new Deaconess Sports Park. Game Day USA hosted the first tournament in the $15.3 million, 8-field complex. Dozens of walkers tested the 1-mile paved walking track as part of the Deaconess Healthier U program. Members of the McCutchanville Volunteer Fire Department, Air Evac, AMR ambulance service, and other emergency responders set up in the parking lot and invited families to check out the helicopter, fire truck, and other vehicles.
At noon, the Evansville Convention and Visitors Bureau held a grand opening and ribbon-cutting celebration. Linda White, President and CEO of Deaconess Health System, told the crowd that sponsoring a place that encourages families to be active aligned with our mission and we were happy to support such a great addition to the community.
Following the official ribbon-cutting, the crowd was invited to explore the park, visit the concession stands (and maybe choose the healthier food options), and watch some baseball.
The Deaconess Sports Park is designed for girls' fast-pitch and slow-pitch softball tournaments, women's fast-pitch and slow-pitch softball tournaments, men's fast-pitch and slow-pitch softball tournaments, adult and co-ed softball leagues, and boys' 12-and-under baseball tournaments. The Deaconess Sports Park was built entirely with funding from the Innkeepers' Tax revenue. The facility will be maintained, managed, and marketed by the Evansville Convention & Visitors Bureau.
Deaconess has naming rights to the facility and worked with the Evansville Convention & Visitors Bureau to install a 1-mile walking track that is accessible to the public even when there are no ball games. Six exercise stations are located throughout the walking track to encourage stretching and strength training in addition to walking. Deaconess also worked with the food vendor for the park and suggested adding some healthier options to the menu. Now, families can choose a chef salad, carrot sticks, apple slices, and a grilled chicken sandwich to go with their popcorn!