Sumter County’s New Patriot Park Baseball/Softball Complex · 2020. 10. 17. · Airport Industrial Park Infrastructure $1 million Project in design phase. To be completed Water

Volume 21 Number 1

Sumter County’sNew Patriot Park

Baseball/Softball Complex

6 Volume 21, Number 1

S

By W. Stuart Morgan III

See Map of South CarolinaCounties and County Seats,

Page 47

Sumter County

Sumter County’sNew Patriot Park

Baseball/Softball Complex

umter County’s new $6 million Patriot Park Baseball/Softball Complex is ex-pected to become an attractive destina-tion for baseball/softball tournaments. In fact, the 2009 Dixie Youth Softball World Series was held there from July 31 to August 5 shortly after Sumter County hosted opening ceremonies for the facil-

ity on July 29. The Dixie World Series includes five age divisions, and Sumter County became the first county to host all five.

SUMTER COUNTY COUNCIL — After hitting a “home run” with the new Patriot Park Base-ball/Softball Complex at the county’s Patriot Park Sportsplex, members of Sumter County Council proudly stand for a photo at the park’s entrance. Shown are (left to right) Council Member Naomi D. Sanders, Vice Chairman Eugene R. Baten, Council Member Charles T. Edens, Chairman Vivian Fleming McGhaney, Council Members Larry Blanding, Arthur R. Baker and James Byrd, Jr. (Photo by Stuart Morgan)

“We’re really proud of our new state-of-the-art baseball/softball com-plex,” said Sumter County Council Chairman Vivian Fleming McGhaney. “It’s special, because it was funded by lo-cal taxpayers — voting citizens of Sumter County — and because it will serve the entire county. Our new baseball/softball complex is second to none.” Sumter County attempted twice — the first time in November 2000 and the second time in November 2006 — to pass a Local Option Sales Tax (One Penny

“We’re really proud of our new state-of-the-art baseball/softball complex. It’s special, because it was funded by local taxpayers — voting citizens of Sumter County — and because it will serve the entire county.”

— Vivian Fleming McGhaneySumter County Council Chairman

COUNTY FOCUS 7

(See Ballpark, page 9)

Sales Tax) Referendum to build the Pa-triot Park Sportsplex. After both efforts failed, the county allocated $4.3 million in mid-2007 to fund the first phase of the Patriot Park Sportsplex — the construc-tion of a soccer pavilion, six collegiate regulation soccer fields and over 350 parking spaces between 2007 and 2008.

Sumter County Hits a “Home Run”

Sumter County then “hit a home run” on its third attempt in November

Date Name of Tournament Number of Teams

Feb. 20 & 21 Soccer Tournament at Patriot Park 35 TeamsFeb. 20 & 21 USSSA Baseball at Patriot Park 20 TeamsMarch 13 SCISA Softball Tournament at Dillon Park 25 TeamsMarch 20 & 21 USSSA Baseball at Patriot Park 20 TeamsApr. 16 & 18 Youth Soccer State Cup at Patriot Park 95 TeamsApr. 24 & 25 ISA Softball Tournament at Patriot Park 15 TeamsMay 1 WFC Softball Tournament at Patriot Park 25 TeamsMay 15 & 16 WFC Softball Tournament at Patriot Park 45 TeamsMay 22 & 23 USSSA Baseball Tournament at Patriot Park 35 TeamsJune 5 & 6 ISA Softball Tournament at Patriot Park 35 TeamsJune 12 & 13 USSSA Baseball Tournament at Patriot Park 30 TeamsJune 18-20 WFC State Softball Tournament at Palmetto & Patriot Park 60 TeamsJune 19 Soccer 3 -V- 3 Tournament 35 TeamsJune 26 & 27 USSSA Baseball Tournament at Patriot Park 30 TeamsJuly 16–22 Dixie Boys Baseball State Championships at Patriot Park 24 TeamsJuly 24 Soccer 3 -V- 3 Tournament 40 TeamsJuly 31 – Aug. 1 ISA Softball Tournament at Patriot Park 25 TeamsAug. 7 & 8 USSSA Baseball Tournament at Patriot Park 30 TeamsAug. 21 & 22 USSSA Baseball Tournament at Patriot Park 25 TeamsAug. 28 & 29 ISA Softball Tournament at Patriot Park 20 TeamsSept. 18 & 19 ISA Softball Tournament at Patriot Park 20 TeamsOct. 9 & 10 USSSA Baseball Tournament at Patriot Park 25 TeamsOct. 23 & 24 USSSA Baseball Tournament at Patriot Park 25 TeamsNov. 6 & 7 ISA Softball Tournament at Palmetto Park 20 TeamsNov. 12 & 13 SOCCER Tournament at Patriot Park 40 TeamsNov. 20 & 21 USSSA Baseball Tournament at Patriot Park 30 Teams

TOTAL: 829 Teams

Schedule of 2010 Tournaments,Sumter County Patriot Park Sportsplex

As the following 2010 tournament schedule shows, Sumter County’s new Baseball/Softball Complex is quickly becoming a destination for tour-naments. Baseball/softball tournaments at the new Patriot Park Baseball/Softball Complex are highlighted in blue. Tournaments at the county’s two older parks (Dillon and Palmetto) are highlighted in red. The 2009 Dixie Youth Softball World Series was held from July 31 to August 5, 2009, just a few days after Sumter County hosted opening ceremonies on July 29, 2009 for the new Baseball/Softball Complex at Sumter County’s Patriot Park Sportsplex.

View of the large pavilion — the centerpiece of the new Patriot Park Baseball/Softball Com-plex — that visitors see upon entering the park. (Photo by Stuart Morgan)


Sumter County voters approved the Local Option Sales Tax Referendum in November 2008. Now, Sumter County is using $75 million gener-ated by the tax to complete 16 quality of life improvement projects. More information is provided below:

Sumter County’s Local Option Sales Tax Projects

PROJECT TITLE PROJECTED COST TIME LINE

1. Rural Fire Station Improvements $3 million Renovations have already started, and will be completed by December 2012. Con- struction of new stations to begin in June 2010, and all 16 stations to be completed by December 2012.

2. Patriot Park Sportsplex $6 million Project completed in July 2009.Construct four regulation baseball/softball fields, controltower walking paths and parking lot.

3. Community Center Improvements $2.5 million Renovation of three centers to beConstruct three new rural recreation community centers completed by August 2010. New ($500,000 each). Renovate six existing community centers. construction to begin in Fall 2011.

4. Spot Safety Road Intersection and Improvements $2.1 million Engineering work underway andImprovement of seven dangerous road intersections construction to begin in Summer.

in Sumter County. All work to be completed by 2012.

5. Renovation Sumter Exhibition Center $4 million Bid opening in May 2010 and projectNew addition of 26,000 square feet to front foyer. New street expected to be completed by July 2011.entrance and gate work along with resurfaced parking lot.

6. Sidewalk Improvements $1.5 million Four of the seven projects have beenNew and improved sidewalks at seven different locations, completed. Remaining projects to beprimarily around local schools. completed by Fall 2011.

7. Central Business District Improvements $2.75 million Project underway and to be completedDowntown infrastructure improvements to include by Fall 2011.burying utilities, mast arms, streetscape and improvingsignage.

8. Lafayette Drive Interchange Renovations $6 million In design phase. Project to be completedProject to include completely redesigning and renovating by Fall 2012.Hwy 378 and Hwy 15 By-Pass Interchange.

9. New County Judicial Center $20 million Design/build project request to beA newly constructed judicial center downtown. released by May 2010. To be completed

in 2012.

10. Hwy 15 South Corridor Improvement $671,000 Project to begin Fall 2010 and to beTotal renovation on Hwy 15 intersection to include completed by Winter 2010.streetscape, mast arms, road bricking and signage.

11. Airport Industrial Park Road Extension $1.6 million Project in design phase. To be completedA four-lane road extension in conjunction with previous by Fall 2011.road project.

12. Airport Industrial Park Infrastructure $1 million Project in design phase. To be completedWater and sewer extension in conjunction with previous road by Fall 2011.project.

13. Pocotaligo Industrial Park Improvement $2 million In design phase. Project to be completedUpgrade in water service to industrial park with new tower. in Spring 2012.

14. Downtown Property Acquisition $2 million Project ongoing and to be completed byRepair or remove blighted downtown properties along major 2013.corridors.

15. New Water Plant $8 million Site undetermined. To be completedPlan to expand public water to southeastern portion of by 2013.Sumter County.

16. Property Acquisition–Near Shaw AFBPurchase critical 1,000 acres near Shaw AFB to protect against $6 million Completedencroachment.

COUNTY FOCUS 9

2008 when citizens finally voted to pass a $75 million Local Option Sales Tax Re-fendum (see page 8) to fund 16 projects — including the Patriot Park Sportsplex’s second phase, the new baseball/softball complex. (See illustration, page 10) “Passage of the Local Option Sales Tax was a tremendous accomplishment for Sumter County,” said Sumter Coun-

ty Administrator William T. Noonan. “Even at the beginning of what is now known as a tough economic downturn, our county — through a public vote — passed an additional tax to support 16 quality of life improvement projects.”

The Patriot ParkBaseball/Softball Complex

The Patriot Park Baseball/Softball Complex, constructed between Decem-ber 2008 and July 2009, features a large

brick central pavilion — called Patriot Pavilion — that is the centerpiece of the complex. The impressive brick structure is surrounded by four collegiate level soft-ball fields. One field can be used for col-legiate level baseball. All four fields can be used by youth of all ages for baseball or softball. Patriot Pavilion is unique. Under the protection of one large roof, spec-tators can visit the concession area and walk to and from all four fields. Behind

Ball Park ...(Continued from page 7)

COUNTY FOCUS 9

Photos by Luke Lukens andStuart Morgan

A small white sign, located behind the entrance to the Sumter County Patriot Park Sportsplex, thanks the “Penny for Progress Tax” or One Cent Capital Sales Tax for the sportsplex project.

On July 29, 2009, Sumter County hosts grand opening ceremonies for the new Patriot Park Baseball/Softball Complex. (Photos by Luke Lukens, Special Projects Manager, Sumter County)


each field’s home plate, a large enclosed seating area is provided. Ceiling fans cir-culate air during hot summer games. The concession area, located in the center of the cavernous pavilion on the ground floor, includes a full service grill where patrons can purchase soft drinks and bottled water; hot hamburgers, hot dogs, chicken, fries and much more. A state-of-the-art, climate-controlled tower overlooking all four fields features wireless internet access, wireless score-board controls and direct dugout phone access. Four large, grass-covered mounds separating the fields — protected by a uniquely-designed, easier to see through netting system — allow spectators to safely watch games closer to the action of play. Because of the special netting, the grass-covered mounds have become the most popular venues for watching games.

Dugouts — almost three times larg-er than most recreation ballfield dugouts — are sunken below ground level like those on professional baseball fields. This allows players in the dugouts to watch games from a unique ground level

perspective. Each dugout also features bat racks, individual helmet racks and bat bag hangers, two-level seating, elec-tric coolers and fans. “Families and friends of players are impressed with the covered spectator seating surrounding the control tower behind each field,” said Sumter County Deputy Administrator Gary M. Mixon, who previously served as the county’s recreation director. “Press, league and tournament officials and other dignitar-ies also enjoy the special viewing area in the control tower, located in the center of the complex high above the action. “But for the players,” Mixon added, “the most unique thing about our new baseball/softball complex are the dug-outs. Kids, playing at the park for the first time, are blown away by this fea-ture.”



This illustration, drawn in 2006, shows the master plan for what it is now named the Sumter County Patriot Park Sportsplex. The second phase, the new baseball/softball complex, is located in the right section of the illustration. (Illustration courtesy of Kenneth B. Simmons Associates, LLC)

“Families and friends of players are impressed with the covered spectator seating ... . Press, league and tournament officials and other dignitaries also enjoy the special viewing area in the control tower ... . But for the players, the most unique thing about our new baseball/softball complex are the dugouts.”

— Gary M. MixonSumter County Deputy Administrator

COUNTY FOCUS 11

View from the outfield (with Sumter All-Stars on the field in red uniforms) during the Dixie Youth Softball World Series Championship Game, August 5, 2009. (Photo by Luke Lukens)

The photos (left and below) show the central interior of the pavilion where the concession stand is located. The photo at right shows the skylight, located high above the floor. (Photos by Stuart Morgan)

COUNTY FOCUS 11



Walkers and joggers can also enjoy the trails, which connect the baseball/softball complex to the soccer fields on the other side of the Sportsplex, during the evenings and on weekends. The Patriot Park Sportsplex has a to-tal of 900 parking spaces.

Built for the Future

Sumter County’s Patriot Park Sports Complex was constructed to accommo-date the county’s growing population and its growing number of recreational programs, according to Sumter County Council Member Charles T. Edens, who championed the construction of the Patriot Park Sportsplex. It was also de-signed to host state and national tourna-

ments, and to satisfy a growing number of local residents who wanted a new rec-reational facility. Sumter County’s new sportsplex is the first recreational facility the county has constructed since it constructed Dil-lon Park in 1977. During the past 33 years, the number of baseball, softball and soccer programs in the county has grown from 1,700 to more than 3,000.



View from one of the corners of the control tower, above Patriot Pavilion and the four ball fields

At left and below-left, views of one of the sunken dugouts

Patriot Pavilion offersshelteredseating for all four ball fields.

Patriot Pavilion is surrounded by four ball fields. This is a view from one pitcher’s mound. (Photos by Stuart Morgan)


Dillon Park is still used for adult and youth softball, football and golf and weekend tournaments. Palmetto Park, another facility con-structed in the early 1970s, is still used for youth baseball, tennis and weekend baseball and softball tournaments. Patriot Park, Dillon Park and Pal-metto Park — located within five miles of each other on Wise Drive in Sumter — have a total of 16 baseball/softball fields. Edens said he believed Sumter



Third and Final PhaseNow that Sumter County’s new

baseball/softball complex — the sec-ond phase of the county’s Patriot Park Sportsplex — has been completed, there is a third and final phase yet to be completed.

“The third phase of our Patriot Park Sportsplex,” said Sumter County Ad-ministrator William T. Noonan, “con-sists of the construction of an environ-mental center in the middle of the park on a 10-acre pond between the soccer complex and the baseball/softball com-

plex.”The Environmental Center is in the

design phase.“The center will have a large en-

closed meeting space overlooking the pond with attached outdoor decking,” Noonan said. “The center will have pub-lic access restrooms and an outdoor cov-ered shelter area as well. Boardwalks to an island and walking trails to environ-mental study areas will also be a part of the proposed project in phase three.”

“Our citizens rallied together on our third attempt in 2008 and voted in favor of the One Penny Sales Tax. Since then, our county has kept its promise to our citizens by constructing this beautiful, functional facil-ity.”

— Charles T. EdensSumter County Council Member

County needed to build “a very nice fa-cility that would last for years to come and accommodate the county’s growing

population. “Fortunately,” he added, “our citi-zens rallied together on our third at-tempt in 2008 and voted in favor of the One Penny Sales Tax. Since then, our county has kept its promise to our citi-zens by constructing this beautiful, func-tional facility.” Edens thanked Sumter County Council for having the fortitude to go forth with a third attempt on the One Penny Sales Tax, and especially the citi-zens of Sumter County for voting in fa-vor of it. Sumter County Deputy Administra-tor Gary Mixon said he believes the One Penny Sales Tax Referendum passed on the county’s third attempt a couple of years ago, because the county involved the key stakeholders earlier in the pro-cess and developed a broader list of projects that appealed to more voters. Many hotels and restaurants are lo-cated in Sumter near Dillon Park, Pal-metto Park and Sumter County’s new Patriot Park Sportsplex. Considering this, the growth in the county’s popu-lation in recent years, and the rising popularity of youth sports tournaments since Dillon Park was built in 1977, one thing appears certain: Sumter County’s Patriot Park Sportsplex — including its new baseball/softball complex — should definitely help make Sumter a popular destination for state and national tour-naments for many years to come. The Sumter Dixie Debs, who won last year’s Dixie Youth World Series — Sumter’s first — already believe it’s a great place to play!

Ken Simmons and Associates of Co-lumbia (lead architect) and Drakeford Architects of Sumter designed Sumter County’s Patriot Park Sportsplex, includ-ing the new Patriot Park Baseball/Softball Complex. Hawkins & Kolb Construction of Sumter built the Sportsplex.

Sumter Dixie Debs Win Dixie Youth World Series, August 5, 2009

The Sumter Dixie Debs (15 to 18 age group) won the 2009Dixie Youth World Series on August 5, 2009. At right, the team is shown shortly after winning the championshipgame. (Photo by Luke Lukens)

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Sumter County’s New Patriot Park Baseball/Softball Complex · 2020. 10. 17. · Airport Industrial Park Infrastructure $1 million Project in design phase. To be completed Water