Top Menu

Ray Winder Field on the block

The city of Little Rock has put Ray Winder Field, the former home of the Arkansas Travelers (Class AA; Texas League), up for sale via a bidding process.The city of Little Rock has put Ray Winder Field, the former home of the Arkansas Travelers (Class AA; Texas League), up for sale via a bidding process. After the Travs moved to Dickey-Stephens Park, the city was at a loss for what to do with the historic ballpark, which opened in 1932. No one in city government, it seems, wants to be known as the person who tore down Ray Winder Field, so they’re letting the private market do it. True, the ballpark sits on some desirable land, and selling it would generate some needed revenue for the city. Two leading plans seem to be emerging. One calls for the ballpark to be preserved and used as a ballpark for Arkansas Baptist and area high school teams, as well as for big events like party space when the University of Arkansas plays a football game at nearby War Memorial Stadium. Russ Meeks and Rex Nelson, who have ties to the Travelers and the Arkansas Baseball Foundation, have formed the Ray Winder Foundation. However, the next-door zoo is eying the land as expansion space; the Arkansas Zoological Foundation will be preparing a bid that will almost certainly call for the destruction of the ballpark. Keeping Ray Winder Field open is going to take some imagination and perhaps a few deep pockets, but ironically the mixed ownership of the place (both the city and the state own it) may help preserve it for the time being.