Big League Dreams Sports Park opens to baseball fans

Jerry HEnkel/ViewA baseball field that is a replica of Crosley Field in Cincinnati opened to baseball enthusiasts at the Big League Dreams Sports Park, 3151 E. Washington Ave., Jan. 25. Advertisement

Baseball legends, city officials and Las Vegas residents converged on the newly completed Big League Dreams Sports Park, 3151 E. Washington Ave., for an unveiling and ribbon-cutting ceremony on Jan. 25.

The facility features six fields that are small-scale imitations of famous major league stadiums and also features two restaurants, batting cages, a playground area and an indoor field house.

"Today is a wonderful day for Ward 3," Las Vegas Mayor Oscar Goodman said during the ceremony. "This facility is unique to Las Vegas and will serve as another draw for those who visit our city. I also believe that it will aid in the redevelopment of this area. It's wonderful that people who live in this area finally have a beautiful park to call their own, and even better that it is attached to this remarkable facility."

Former big leaguers Jason and Jeremy Giambi, Bobby Grich, Wally Joyner and Bill Russell were in attendance, along with Mayor Pro Tem Gary Reese, Ward 5 Councilman Ricki Barlow and Clark County Commissioner Tom Collins.

The facility is attached to the newly renovated Freedom Park, 850 N. Mojave Road. The $17.5 million park renovation began construction in November 2008 and re-opened in mid-January.

The project included the renovation of two Little League ball fields, two new lighted soccer fields, basketball courts, a building for concessions, restrooms, a perimeter fence, an exercise area, a walking/ jogging path, a skate park, an events platform and recreation area, shade structures, security lighting and additional parking.

According to Betsy Fretwell, Las Vegas city manager, the two projects cost approximately $48 million and were paid for with bond and general fund dollars.

"This is a result of a public and private partnership and people who had a vision and stuck with it," she said.

Fretwell said that Reese, in particular, spent countless hours on the project.

"Nobody does something like this alone, and I certainly didn't," Reese said.

According to Reese, the sports complex is designed to give locals a new place to play, but also bring tournaments from Chicago, Arizona and California.

Las Vegas resident Christian Flores attended the grand opening with his 11-year-old son Roland, and said that he was taken aback by the likeness of Dodger Stadium.

"This is one of those places where kids make memories. Twenty years from now, my son will look back at the times he played here and remember what it felt like, what the weather was like, the smell in the air. It's one of those kinds of places," Flores said.

While the fields primarily will be used for league play and special events, residents are welcome to come out and play from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. on non-event days. Fields and batting cages will be open with no gate fee during that time, but the field house will not. After 4 p.m., spectators ages 12 and younger may enter the park for free, while ages 13 and older pay a $3 gate fee and receive a token worth $1 off food and beverages.

For more information, call 642-4448 or visit www.BigLeagueDreams.com.

Contact North Las Vegas and Downtown View reporter Amanda Llewellyn at allewellyn@viewnews.com or 380-4535.