The greater Raleigh-Durham area could see more baseball if Holly Springs moves ahead with a plan to build a new ballpark for a summer-collegiate Coastal Plain League team.
We’re talking modest here — the city has about 25,000 residents, but is expecting growth as the nearly Research Triangle expands — as in a 2,500-seat ballpark first pitched earlier this year by Pete Bock. Town leaders voted last week to spend $84,000 on planning for the project, which will determine the physical feasibility of the project. If that report is positive, more planning would ensue; if all goes well a new ballpark could be ready for the 2014 season.
Economic development would be a big rationale for building the ballpark, say city leaders.
North Carolina is the cradle of the game of baseball, and Raleigh-Durham is at the core. The area already hosts the Durham Bulls (Class AAA; International League) and the Carolina Mudcats (High Class A; Carolina League), as well as USA Baseball in Cary and the three major college programs. Also, historic Durham Athletic Park is still the subject of discussions among city officials for some new baseball initiatives.
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