First update done on Healdsburg Recreation Park

The Grandstands have completed the first phase of construction. The first phase of this project was completed “grass roots style” and it is the way that the “Best Little Ballpark in California” has always maintained its dignity.

From the original installation of the grandstands to the lighting of the fields, this little ballpark has always seen a lot of volunteer love and care. 

The first phase of the project began in earnest with a big celebration named Healdsburg Day at Rec Park. There was a pancake breakfast, a car show, a home run derby and a family BBQ on June 19, 2010.

The highlight of the day was the renaming of the grandstands to “The Clarence Ruonavaara Grandstands” at the Healdsburg Recreation Park and the groundbreaking ceremony of this construction project. 

The grandstands were first installed after being purchased from the Cotati Speedway just east of Cotati after that local speedway operation failed in 1922.

You can see OUR grandstands at their former home in the picture that accompanies this article. They were purchased and installed by a local group back then and served us well until recent years.

The recent demise of the grandstands was not caused so much by deferred maintenance but just the need for 90-year-old wood stands that are in use constantly to just be replaced. 

This project was handled much like the recent gazebo project in the plaza that was a joint effort of the City of Healdsburg and a committed group of volunteers.

The committee was formed, the project was assessed and a scope of work was decided on. Phase One had a primary goal of maintaining that classic look cosmetically but included seismic retrofitting, new disabled access, new electrical service and repairing of the seating.

The changing of the grade of the very front of the stands was also done. That change  will drastically reduce annual maintenance costs that are performed by our sports teams.   

Jerry Eddinger, a local contractor and owner of Eddinger Enterprises construction firm in Healdsburg, recently gave a full update to the  Eddinger Enterprises was also the lead company on the Plaza Gazebo project.

“There was a lot more damage to the stands that had to be repaired during phase one of the project than what was planned for," said Eddinger, also a member of the Healdsburg Planning Commission. "It was fully anticipated and thank goodness we had the funds on hand to execute anything that we had to repair.

 “We also had the luxury of having dozens of volunteer skilled craftsmen that could easily handle any unseen challenge with ease,”Eddinger added.

Eddinger further reported that because of local support by companies such as and the , the group was able to "really cut costs," he said.

The Belli Corporation donated stainless steel piping that was used to support the front of the roof on the stands thereby improving the look and reducing visual impairments. Healdsburg Lumber offered reduced pricing on lumber and other local vendors stepped up as well. 

There were also many little details built into the project that only a local company could provide with TLC. They included little slots in the backstop so that during the Future Farmers Fair auction, the auctioneers can pass bid sheets to the audience.

“Those stainless steel poles were strategically placed so [auctioneer Dave Lewers can climb up the front of the stands as he has done for years to excite the auction crowd,” Eddinger said. 

 “I am going to climb the front of those stands until I am in a wheelchair, then I can demand a ramp,”  Lewers said.

Kay’s Kitchen, the snack bar that is named after Kay Steinbach and which is under the west end of the stands, has had a huge renovation as well. 

Phase Two renovations include new bathrooms, locker rooms for the local sports teams and storage areas for the Future Farmers Fair.

http://www.ci.cotati.ca.us/sections/about/bigphotos/racetrack.html

http://www.recparkgrandstands.org/32401/index.html

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