New benches, plans for Phase II of athletic complex presented to Chelsea Council

The City of Chelsea had a brief agenda but several presentations to hear at its April 17 city council meeting.

During pre-council, City Engineer Keith Hager presented preliminary plans for Phase II of the Chelsea Sports Complex on Shelby County 11. The conceptual map included four baseball fields of varying sizes, a parking lot with nearly 300 spaces, a playground, walking trails and the future site for Weldon Pavillion.

The plan, Hager said, was based on the city’s master plan which was drawn up at the time the property was purchased. Hager also said he has met with Councilor David Ingram, and those discussions led to plans for one “championship field” among the four.

This field was shown as 375 feet to the outfield on the drawing, though Hager noted that that distance may change, and would be a possible spot for high school games and more tournaments.

“What we’re trying to do is make that one signature field on the 6A, 7A high school level so that maybe we could get the Chelsea High School [team] to play there. I know David’s real interested in that, and I know we are too. But it would also serve the purpose for our tournaments,” Hager said.

In addition to a larger field size, Hager said there were also plans for in-ground dugouts, “more elaborate stands” that could also accommodate more people and “amphitheater seating” on grassy knolls.

Mayor Tony Picklesimer asked if the amphitheater, more informal seating was “kind of like the [Hoover] Met and Regions Field,” to which Hager responded, “Exactly, that’s what we were thinking.”

The field could accomodate between 2,000-3,000, he said.

Plans for the phase also included two 300-foot fields and one 225-foot field, although Hager said a change in size might be needed to better accommodate the city’s needs. Councilor Tiffany Bittner said that as someone with kids who play baseball, she knows the city needs more fields.

“We’re growing by leaps and bounds, and it’s only going to get more and more and more. So if we’re going to do this, I think we have to plan for the future of having even more kids,” Bittner said. “... My kids are in it and I know. It’s weird hours because it’s the only time they can get the field.”

Hager also discussed the walking trail, which he said would connect with the trails in Phase I, and a need for a few wooden pedestrian bridges that could also accommodate golf carts or Chelsea Fire and Rescue’s off-road vehicle.

While no decisions were made at the meeting, Hager said it was important discussions start sooner rather than later.

“We’re coming up on a good time to do some work. Again, you start looking two years down the road to be playing on it, and I’ve got to start moving dirt in the next two months,” Hager said.

During the regular council meeting, members of the Chelsea High School Student Government Association presented several benches benches, three of which had been painted by an SGA member in memory of family members of three Chelsea seniors. Tanner Middleton, president of the SGA, said the projects came about as a way for the student government to connect with the city government.

“It was something we knew we could do to help out the community as well as honor some students in our grade that really play an influential part in what makes up our grade,” Middleton said. “... We were just really thankful to get to partner with the city and get so many people involved.”

Three benches bore placards in memory of Kristi Barker Ingram, Jennifer Lowe Berry and Thomas Smith. The benches will be given to the families, Middleton said, who can then decide where they would like to place the benches. An additional four benches, also donated by SGA, will be used at parks in the city.

Also at the meeting, the council heard from three candidates whose names will be on the ballot at the June 5 primary. Lina Evans, who is running for Shelby County Coroner, and Ted Crockett, who is running for Alabama House District 45, both spoke during the pre-council and regular council meeting. Stella Tipton, who is running for Probate Judge, spoke during the council meeting.