A Dunnellon resident recently donated $50,000 toward repairs and improvements at the Dunnellon Little League sports complex located at 12214 Bridges Road.
The Marion County Parks and Recreation department announced in a Facebook posting that Jim Gissy presented the donation to Commissioner Kathy Bryant and Parks and Recreation Director Jim Couillard last week.
The donation was made in partnership with the Friends of Marion County Parks and Recreation Foundation, and Marion County will match the donation with an additional $50,000.
The funds will be used to address various repairs and safety issues along with reworking the sports complex’s fields.
The complex is a baseball and softball facility operated by volunteers that features three baseball fields, two softball fields, one T-ball field, concession stands, two restroom buildings, various storage sheds, two parking areas, and four open batting cages.
A site assessment of the complex last year determined that numerous repairs are needed. Deferred maintenance needs (exterior enclosures, roofing, building interior and interior finishes, fire protection, electrical wiring, site improvements) along with short-term needs (roof replacement, restroom improvements, building interior and interior finishes, plumbing, HVAC, electrical wiring, site improvements) were highlighted by Couillard during the Marion County Board of County Commissioners meeting on Tuesday, December 7, 2021.
The deferred maintenance costs are estimated at $27,035 and the short-term costs are estimated at $27,900, bringing the total cost to nearly $55,000.
The complex is seeking additional playability improvements on the various fields. On fields one, two, and three, there are plans for irrigation system repairs, the re-working of the clay infields, along with replacement of turf wherever needed. Any remaining funds after those repairs would be utilized for the re-working of the clay on fields four, five, and six.
The sports field renovations are estimated at around $45,000. Combined with the previously mentioned deferred and short-term repair costs, the total cost for maintenance and repairs is estimated at $100,000.