Photo Caption: Wicomico County Executive Bob Culver throws the ceremonial first pitch at Henry S. Parker Athletic Complex Opening Day. Also pictured are Wicomico County Recreation Superintendent James Simmons and Wicomico County Recreation, Parks & Tourism Director Steve Miller. Photo by Earl Campbell
SALISBURY, MD – On a sunny spring day, Wicomico County Executive Bob Culver opened the expanded Henry S. Parker Athletic Complex with a first pitch.
An Opening Day event took place Thursday, April 5, to celebrate the completion of the complex expansion. High school baseball and softball players paraded onto Field 5 before Wicomico County Recreation, Parks & Tourism Director Steve Miller spoke about the project.
“Over the last year and a half, we have invested over 3 million dollars in this facility, renovating this field that you're on, building brand new fields and adding many other park amenities to make this the best baseball/softball facility in the state of Maryland, and arguably in the region," Miller said.
As part of the expansion, three new baseball/softball fields were created, bringing the complex's total to eight diamonds, and one of the existing fields – Field 5, where the Opening Day ceremony was held – was rebuilt to feature a synthetic turf infield. The new fields also have synthetic turf infields.
Six of the fields at the complex are lighted, and two have a new press box and scoreboard. Among the other amenities are concession stands and batting cages. The complex is home to community recreation programs as well as events such as the United States Specialty Sports Association Eastern National Championships and a new Youth Baseball Nationals tournament coming to the facility this year.
After Culver's first pitch on Thursday, high school baseball and softball teams played games on six of the fields.
In addition to the more than $30 million economic impact of national events, Miller said there will be plenty of opportunities for local residents to use the fields, including for high school and Eastern Shore Baseball League games, along with youth and adult softball and adult kickball.
“We're just so thrilled to be able to offer this to the citizens as a benefit to our community," Miller said.
To learn more about the Henry S. Parker Athletic Complex, visit www.WicoSports.org.
