Hamlet has signed a 25-year lease for the renovated Field of Dreams on Boyd Lake Road across from American Legion Post 49.

“We understand this is the best decision for our kids,” Hamlet Mayor Jeff Smart said.

According to Smart, the fields next to the legion are owned by the city, but those across Boyd Lake Road, the Field of Dreams, are owned by the American Legion.

“It’s a done deal,” said Mitch Bowman, Hamlet parks and recreation director. “This is a big benefit for our parks and recreation department.”

“It’s a simple process for both organizations,” Smart said. “It could not happen without them.”

Completed in 2006, the Field of Dreams was the result of volunteer efforts and help from the Hamlet American Legion.

Although most changes won’t take affect until the 2011 season, the city is looking for grants to improve the facility.

For next season, the city indicated they would like to see all baseball games played at the Field of Dreams and nearby diamonds. That would alleviate the pressure on parents driving to and from games across town to watch their children play.

According to Bowman, the structure of the baseball program has parents driving from the Boyd Lake Road fields to the Memorial Park’s fields. Also more fields means more practice time, according to Bowman.

“We’d love to have the field lighted too,” Bowman said.

During recent renovations, a concessions stand was nearly completed. Bowman would like to have that finished.

“Maybe we could have some electricity on that side too,” Bowman said.

Before the concession stand’s completion, attendees will have to cross Boyd Lake Road to gain access to any concessions which could pose a hazard. Once it’s finished, that side of the road will have electricity to cook and keep food warm and drinks cold.

In addition to two extra fields and potential concessions, procuring the fields also means more parking for parents.

The proposed changes to the Hamlet Parks and Recreation program may begin with the baseball field, but won’t end there, Smart says. He’d like to see all soccer games played at Jack Breeden park which is undergoing some changes. The city plans to build additional parking spaces near the field after acquiring land from the county.

“I just got some quotes from land clearers the other day,” Bowman said.

The extra parking would solve some issues facing park officials and attendees. The land clearing will require council approval.

Flag and tackle football games will still take place at Memorial Park, although upgrades are planned to expand the size of the tackle football field.

Lastly, the basketball gym at Memorial Park may also see some changes, Smart said, but to what extent, the city is not sure.

“(The building) is in dire need of renovations and restructuring,” Smart said.

There is limited parking during games and concerns over the safety and parents have raised concerns about the location of the bathrooms.

The city will begin looking into different options for the gym, including simply renovations or finding a new building to hold the parks and recreation basketball games.

Staff writer Bryan Stewart can be reached at 997-3111 ext. 15 or by e-mail at bstewart@yourdailyjournal.com.