Use tax offers way to fund Shawnee Park upgrades

Passage of a use tax this spring would clear the way for major upgrades to the Shawnee Park sports complex designed to enhance Cape Girardeau's ability to draw regional softball and baseball tournaments that pump money into the local economy.

The proposed use tax, among other things, would provide about $300,000 a year to help fund construction of a new police station and free up an equal amount of restaurant-tax revenue that could be used for the park improvements, Cape Girardeau city manager Scott Meyer said.

City officials have made the park projects a key selling point in efforts to gain voter approval of the use-tax measure, which is on the April ballot.

City officials want to spend $3 million on improvements to Shawnee Park and amenities for the indoor sports complex. Parks and recreation director Julia Thompson said most of the money would be spent on improving the softball fields as well as parking and concession areas at Shawnee Park.

The park on the city's south side contains 12 soccer fields, seven softball fields and one baseball field.

Thompson said the city is focused on upgrading the softball/baseball complex because it is used heavily for tournaments during the spring and summer months. The weekend tournaments boost the economy, drawing hundreds of participants and their families, she noted. "It's a proven winner," she said.

Thompson said plans call for reconstructing the infields in the softball/baseball complex.

"Right now, the fields are holding water," she said.

The fields were constructed nearly 20 years ago, she said. Over the years, the clay and sand mix has been altered with use. Some areas of the fields have low spots.

"We need to pull out the existing dirt," Thompson said, adding steps must be taken to improve drainage.

Thompson said such reconstruction will allow the fields to handle rainstorms better.

"We won't have to cancel games," she said.

Proposed improvements also include expanding the concession facility and upgrading lighting for the fields.

Thompson said five of the fields have lights. The city wants to replace the existing lighting with "green technology" lamps that use less electricity and install equipment that would allow the lights to be programmed to turn on and off, she said.

Parking renovations also are on the drawing board.

"The asphalt is crumbling. It really is in bad shape," Thompson said.

Plans call for putting new asphalt on the parking lot as well as placing an asphalt overlay on the adjacent gravel lot.

Sidewalks would be installed for pedestrian safety, she said.

The city also is looking at partnering with schools for the use of existing ball fields, a move that would allow Cape Girardeau to attract even larger tournaments, Thompson said.

Restaurant-tax money also would be used to finish out the indoor sports complex where needed, Thompson said.

The new indoor sports complex, which is under development on the northeast corner of Interstate 55 and Highway 61 in the area known as Center Junction, will encompass about 120,000 square feet, she said.

"We won't have everything we need on opening day," Thompson said.

She said the added funding will allow for the purchase of needed equipment for the facility.

As for the proposed Shawnee Park improvements, the need is critical, city officials emphasized.

Thompson said Cape Girardeau could lose an opportunity to host tournaments in the future if upgrades are not made.

Thompson said such tournaments draw people to Shawnee Park from a five-state area.

The park is scheduled to host 18 softball/baseball tournaments this year, said Brenda Newbern, executive director of the Cape Girardeau Convention & Visitors Bureau. The tournaments generate about $95 a day per person in spending by participants on such things as food, fuel and lodging, she said.

One softball tournament this May will draw about 20 teams, with an estimated total of 270 participants.

When parents are factored in, the tournament will draw more than 400 people to town for the two-day event, Newbern said.

By her calculations, spending for food, fuel and lodging will total nearly $77,000. She said that doesn't include any shopping purchases.

Newbern and city officials said improving the Shawnee Park complex ultimately will pay dividends for the local economy.

"It has a major impact on the city," Newbern said.

mbliss@semissourian.com (573) 388-3641

Pertinent address:

Shawnee Park, Highway 74 and West End Boulevard, Cape Girardeau, Mo.