|
|
 |
|
Mud Hens Ballpark Groundbreaking
|
Lucas County Commissioners welcomed Ohio Governor Bob Taft, Toledo’s favorite son Jamie Farr, Muddy the Mud Hen and
other dignitaries to the official groundbreaking of the new Toledo Mud Hens baseball stadium downtown.
750 people attended the October 20, 2000 ceremony, with perfect weather suitable for a spring baseball game. Fans
enjoyed hot dogs, peanuts, and pop and listened to the exciting sounds of the Scott High School Marching Band. The
atmosphere was much like what fans will experience when the $37 million ballpark opens in April 2002.
Dignitaries turned the first shovels of dirt in a downtown parking lot that will one day be replaced with first base
and right field. The new ballpark will fill a city block surrounded by Washington, Monroe, Huron, and St. Clair
Streets.
The demolition of old downtown buildings is progressing ahead of schedule and will be completed by mid-November. A
stretch of Superior Street between Monroe and Washington streets closed permanently for construction.
New parking lots along Summit Street are nearing completion on schedule. Those lots will replace existing parking
the Seagate Convention Centre will lose to ballpark construction. The new lots will also be used for stadium
parking.
The Lathrop company, a division of Turner Construction, has been hired by Lucas County to serve as construction
manager for the new ballpark. Construction plans and bids will be finalized in the next several weeks
Baseball fans will see the new ballpark begin to take shape in the downtown Toledo skyline in the spring. Everything
is on schedule to “play ball” on Opening Day, 2002.
|
|
|
|
