In last week’s issue of the Newcastle Pacer in a story on page 1, we said “the City was awarded a $1.3 million grant and it used those funds to purchase 24 acres abutting the current facility from property owner William R. Owen. The immediate concern was to provide additional parking to get vehicles off of State Highway 130.”
We should have said the $1.3 million grant is being used for paved parking, paved entrance, paved exit, drainage improvements, new restrooms, lagoon upgrades, and ADA accessibility to all ballfields and concessions.
We regret any inconvenience this error may have caused. The land was purchased from the proceeds of a $950,000 loan through The First National Bank & Trust Company.
Assistant City Manager Jeannette McNally said the $1.3 million grant was approved in October 2022, but final approval has been delayed on a federal level. She also said the Newcastle Sports Complex master plan will take many years to fund and construct.
