Some new bleachers and an accompanying shade structure are on the way for the baseball complex at Harrel Ferrel Park, located at Hwy. 92 and Fourth Street in Platte City.
Platte City aldermen last week authorized the purchase of bleachers and shade structure via a budget amendment to fully fund the purchases. The cost of these two items is $18,748. But DJ Gehrt, city administrator, explained the city has been awarded grant funding which provides 80% of the funding for the project.
Net cash impact on the park and recreation fund for the project is $3,750.
The city has been awarded an 80/20% grant from Platte County Parks and Recreation to assist with the project, so $15,000 in grant money will go toward the effort in addition to the city’s $3,750.
Gehrt said the approved budget authorized the expenditure of $10,000 to purchase replacement bleachers at Harrel Ferrel Park. In planning the project, an opportunity was identified to add a sunshade structure to address long standing concerns regarding sun exposure and hot metal bleacher seats.
During the grant application process, the park committee requested staff identify options to provide shade for the bleachers to address sun exposure and hot metal “seat burns,” Gehrt said.
In mid-March, the county announced that Platte City had been awarded two 80/20 park grants, one for the bleacher sections and one for the sun shade structure.
The two bleacher sections and sunshade are scheduled for delivery in early May, city officials said.