Assemblywoman Addie A.E. Jenne, D-Theresa, announced she secured $125,000 in state funding for the city of Watertown to make improvements to the Alex T. Duffy Fairgrounds ballpark.
The assemblywoman said she sought the funding following a conversation with former City Manager Sharon Addison after the announcement last spring that Michael Schell and Paul Velter would be locating a Perfect Game Collegiate Baseball League team in the city.
The Watertown Rapids, a summer team made up of college baseball players from around the country, just completed their first season in Watertown.
Assemblywoman Jenne said the improvements were necessary and will benefit a multitude of users at the Fairgrounds complex.
"This is an important facility for the community, and the grandstand had not been renovated in many years. The field is used by everybody from local high school teams to the Rapids," she noted.
"It also serves as the home for concerts and plays an important role each year during the Jefferson County Fair. This is a good investment, and it allows the city to make needed improvements at the Fairgrounds without placing the burden solely on the backs of city taxpayers," Assemblywoman Jenne said.
She said the funding will be used to modernize the decades-old grandstand at the Fairgrounds field, replace the sound system and make improvements in the clubhouse, including much-needed renovations to the showers and restrooms and the installation of an exhaust system.
The Watertown City Council agreed to accept the grant at its meeting Monday night.
The Fairgrounds field previously served as the home of the Watertown Pirates, lare rebranded as the Watertown Indians, a professional minor league team that called the city home from 1983-98. Mr. Schell was also a co-founder of that team.
The Short-Season Class A minor league team, the Watertown Pirates, was affiliated with the Pittsburgh Pirates from 1983-88 and with the Cleveland Indians from 1989-98. The team was renamed the Watertown Indians when they switched affiliations in 1989.
"I’ll continue working to secure state funding to assist North Country communities make strategic improvements that grow our local economy and improve the quality of life in the cities, villages and towns in the River District, from the lake to the locks," Assemblywoman Jenne said.
IN THE PHOTO:
Assemblywoman Addie A.E. Jenne acknowledges the crowd after being recognized earlier this summer during pre-game ceremonies on the opening night of the Watertown Rapids first season in the city.
