There may be no known connection between fictional farmer Ray Kinsella in the 1989 movie Field of Dreams. What is soon to be unveiled in Williamsport, but that baseball field in an Iowa cornfield, and the one constructed atop an old city dump have one thing in common: they were both built hoping people would come.
The Williamsport Lumber Yards is a new outdoor baseball and softball facility, constructed on the former site of a city dump located adjacent to Interstate 180 just west of Maynard Street. The 28-acre, $22-million development is a project of the Lycoming County Visitors Bureau/Chamber of Commerce aimed at leveraging the community’s existing sports tourism economy by hosting a variety of baseball & softball tournaments and other events.
Opening in April, the facility features six 220-foot baseball/softball diamonds and a seventh collegiate-sized baseball field. Also included are modern concessions and hospitality spaces designed for athletes, families, and fans. In addition to hosting summer-long tournaments and special events, the Lumber Yards is available for youth and adult leagues, clinics, and camps for player development.
While it was the brainchild of the aforementioned entities, the daily operation of the facility will be the responsibility of Eastern Sports Management (EMA), a company based in Fredericksburg, VA. EMA’s business model provides outsourced management for community-based sports and recreation complexes. The company is hired by municipalities, tourism authorities, private developers, and parks and recreation departments to assume oversight of fields, tournament destinations, and special events.
“EMA will be leasing the facility from us (Lycoming County Visitors Bureau /Chamber of Commerce) and will be conducting all activities at the site,” explained Jason Fink, Chamber president.
“The facility will serve as the home baseball and softball fields for Penn College teams who will rent from EMA,” Fink stated. “Area softball and baseball teams would have the opportunity to use the facilities by scheduling events through the operator. Currently, various adult leagues and skills clinics are being scheduled to take place over the spring and summer”.
Planning for the new facility began in December of 2019 when the property was purchased, but three months later, progress was halted by the pandemic.
“The biggest obstacle we faced since buying the property in December 2019 was the pandemic,” Fink added. “That put the entire project on hold for a few years. There were some site development issues to overcome, but that early setback was the biggest hurdle we faced.
“We did a lot of homework before we invested in this project. We conducted a feasibility study, then updated it when we reengaged on the project. The numbers came back very strong regarding the opportunity and the need we could take advantage of. We are very positive about this. If you look at the tournaments and the number of teams that have already been lined up, it is a positive beginning. We think the interest will only grow going forward.”
While operating not far from the Little League Baseball complex in South Williamsport, there has been an explosion of travel ball in recent years, ringing cash registers at similar sports complexes across the country. Thousands of travel baseball and softball teams spend big bucks each summer competing in tournaments at sites similar to what the Lumber Yards can now provide.
Beginning with its scheduled opening on April 10-12, the Lumber Yards is advertising 17 baseball and 15 softball tournaments throughout the spring and summer. A complete listing of those events can be accessed via EMA’s website, contact@williamsportlumberyards.com
Fink indicated that, because of the number of 220-foot fields available, it has drawn significant interest from some collegiate softball groups.
Asked about the potential use of the site by the PIAA, Fink responded that no determination has been made regarding the feasibility of the PIAA using the facility for playoff games.
For years, the PIAA has used the Elm Park complex for playoff games. In response, if any cooperation between The Lumber Yard and Elm Park has been talked about, Fink offered:
“There is no direct connection between the Lumber Yard project and Elm Park. Understanding that this project is just getting started and depending on how things develop down the road, the operator would be open to working with Elm Park and other opportunities within the market to be able to bring in other tournaments that may be larger than the seven fields could accommodate.”
The lumber era gave birth to the community centuries ago, and baseball has spread its name across the globe. This new Lumber Yard looks forward to continuing that tradition.
The Lumber Yards can be accessed by exiting West Third Street onto Rose Street. Parking for approximately 400 vehicles is available on-site.
