BRADENTON — The home of spring training for the Pittsburgh Pirates is expanding with more ball fields and space for community activities.
Community leaders held a groundbreaking for City Park on June 9 at LECOM Park, formerly McKechnie Field, at 1511 Ninth St. W.
With three new baseballs fields, expanded parking and other improvements, City Park is intended to attract state, regional and national baseball tournaments, increasing tourism and revitalizing the neighborhood.
Plans also include a Community Resource Center that will offer services to underserved schools and neighborhoods and house athletic programs, child and adult education, career development initiatives and family support services. The expansion also will include a public park, splash pad, concession space for food and beverage vendors and space for art and community events.
“City Park is about more than the addition of a baseball field,” Mayor Gene Brown said in a press release. “This project has been years in the making, and we’re excited to see it move forward. We’re investing in a place where families can gather, young people can play and learn, and residents can enjoy new recreational opportunities. It’s also an important step in strengthening the connections between our neighborhoods, downtown and the Riverwalk.”
Partners include the City of Bradenton, Manatee County, the School District of Manatee County and the Police Athletic League (PAL). Other collaborators include the Bradenton Area Convention and Visitors Bureau and the Pittsburgh Pirates.
The City Park name pays tribute to City Park Field, where baseball was played more than a century ago.
Fawley Bryant is the architecture firm designing the project, expected to be completed in mid-2028.
Cindy Lane is a staff writer for the Tampa Bay Beacons. She can be reached at clane@tbnweekly.com.