MIDLAND, Texas — We know football reigns supreme in West Texas, but America’s pastime has plenty of players too with a little under 1,000 little leaguers in Midland alone. However, one park in the Tall City where the sounds of baseball can be heard in the Spring will not be in action for the 2024 season.
Reyes-Mashburn-Nelms Park in East Midland will be undergoing renovations to it's baseball complex. The Midland Eastern Little League will be playing elsewhere in 2024 thanks to upgrades approved by Midland City Council that will improve play for little leaguers now and in the future.
This current little league fields will soon be gone to make way for a full renovation.
“The upgrades are definitely needed out here," said Jarvis Conally, president of Midland Eastern Little League. "They’re going to tear down and move the four little league fields up to the front where the soccer fields are now and make it into a pod to where all four fields are surrounding the concession stand.”
Conally says Midland Eastern Little League means a lot to many people around this community.
The renovations will mean a lot too.
“With us being the lower-level park throughout these last 10 years it’s been bad, so now that we have an opportunity to compete and be able to host tournaments and all-star tournaments – that would be great for the kids to be able to see that at their home park," Conally said.
The current little league facilities are almost 20 years old, making maintenance an important part as well.
“We’ll have turf fields and no more having to cut grass, water, drag after games, water before games, chalk – it will save us money [and] time," Conally said.
Upgrades for the players and the spectators.
“Ah the kids, they’re going to be excited," Conally said. "It’s going to show the youth that the City of Midland cares about the youth. It’s going to show parents that we’re not being left behind on the eastside of town.”
With Midland growing, now is the time to play ball.
“349 is getting houses after houses built, and that’s all part of Eastern’s district," Conally said. "So, we’re just going to continue getting more and more kids with young families, and it’s just great for the upcoming youth that’s going to start playing baseball here soon or that’s already playing.”
Conally mentioned that the high school and tee-ball fields will stay where they are, with these renovations set to open up room for more fields in another stage. He added that the plan is to have the upgraded baseball complex completed by the Fall of 2024.