By DAVE DOMESCIK | Staff Writer

PELHAM – Pelham’s Parks and Recreation department has planned various infrastructure updates to one of the city’s most popular locations.

Pelham City Park is set to receive various improvements in the coming months, including a field conversion, a new batting cage facility and more upgrades that will improve the overall aesthetics and feel of the park.

Construction is set to begin on two new pavilions at the playground and splash pad at the park. These spaces can be reserved for special events. There is a two-hour minimum rental for the pavilions, with the rate being $20 per hour for Pelham residents and $40 per hour for non-residents.

Brian Cooper, the director of Pelham Parks and Rec, spoke on the main motivation behind the improvements to Pelham City Park.

“All of the park improvements are part of the overall comprehensive park and connectivity master plan,” Cooper said. “We have a five-year plan that we update annually as we complete some projects and use that as our guide. (A) lack of batting cages and adequate playing surfaces was a key factor for these two projects as well.”

Cooper elaborated on the field conversion and the changes being made to it.

“Field 1 will be converted from a traditional 300 foot dirt and grass field to a three field multi-field turfed facility, capable of having two younger-aged games at once or one older-aged game at a time,” Cooper said.

He also provided a breakdown of the new batting cage facility, which will make it easier for more teams to practice at the facility simultaneously.

“We currently have four batting cages for four fields and eight teams playing at one time,” Cooper said. “This is 50 percent of the need. By adding the additional courts, all teams playing a game will be able to access their own cage prior to the game.”

The scope and total cost of all of the improvements is estimated to be $4.8 million. The improvements are set to be completed in Spring 2026.

For more information on Pelham City Park, visit Pelhamalabama.gov/902/Parks-Recreation.