Published: Apr 25, 2008 02:44 PM Modified: Apr 25, 2008 02:46 PM
http://www.newsobserver.com/news/durham/durham/story/1049932.html

Renovation of Durham ballpark to start
http://www.durhamnc.gov/departments/eed/dap/Index.cfm

From Staff Reports
http://NCCUEaglePride.com

The city of Durham will mark the start of a $5 million renovation of Durham Athletic Park with a groundbreaking ceremony Wednesday morning.

The ceremony begins at 9 a.m. at the athletic park, 400 Cleveland St.

The renovation will include a new playing field to be installed and maintained by Minor League Baseball professionals. The city also plans upgrades to restrooms and concession and seating areas as well as new picnic areas and concourses.

The restoration is due for completion in December.

The Durham Athletic Park was home of the Durham Bulls from 1926 until 1994. Since 1995, local baseball and softball leagues have used the park, which also serves as home field for the N.C. School of the Arts.

The park has been the scene of concerts and festivals, such as the Bimbe Cultural Arts Festival, Bull Durham Blues Festival and the World Beer Festival.

N.C. Central University will make the ballpark its home field beginning in the 2009 season.

Participating in the groundbreaking will be Mayor Bill Bell, City Manager Patrick Baker, Minor League Baseball President and CEO Pat O'Conner, NCCU Chancellor Charles Nelms and Capitol Broadcasting Co. President James Goodmon.

The event will conclude with a special performance by the NCCU band.

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4-30-2008 Groundbreaking Photos From Durham Athletic Park
http://nccueaglepride.cstv.com/photogallery/gallery_index.html?school=nccu

I am so happy for the NCCU baseball team to have their own official home. Very nice pics.

Go Eagle Nation...

Old DAP Receives New Life



Wednesday, Apr 30, 2008 - 08:28 PM Updated: 07:48 AM

By Jennifer Turk
Durham Reporter NBC17.com

DURHAM, N.C.-New life is being poured back into the old Durham Athletic Park with a $5 million restoration project.

The project was officially kicked off Wednesday morning with a traditional groundbreaking ‘turning of the dirt’ ceremony. Durham City Council members, Mayor Bill Bell, and the President of Minor League Baseball, Pat O’Conner, participated in the event.

A facelift to the park will include an upgrade to stadium seating, restrooms, concessions and creating a picnic areas and concourses that reflect the high quality of the ballpark.

“This is a great day for minor league baseball and a great day for Durham,” said Pat O’Conner with Minor League Baseball.

According to the City of Durham the multi-million dollar project is largely funded with the 2005 General Obligation Bond funds. The entire project is expected to be completed by December 2008.

A museum, a training facility and a fan-fare experience park will also accommodate the new DAP. Minor League Baseball wants to bring it’s training grounds to the Bull City for all it’s employees nationwide.

We're going to teach you about grounds keeping, umpiring, score keeping, ticket sales, operations being a fan being a good fan,” O’Conner said. “We're going to teach you about the game.”

The new renovated ballpark will also house the North Carolina Central University Eagle home baseball games.
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