Another round of improvements is coming to Duncan Park

SPARTANBURG, S.C. (WSPA) – Good news for baseball fans in Spartanburg: renovations are planned for the two youth baseball fields in Duncan Park.

Built in 1926, Duncan Park Stadium has been the home to countless baseball games.

“As soon as you bring up Duncan Park the first thing that most folks are going to mention is baseball,” said Christopher George, official with the City of Spartanburg. “You have the historic stadium there, the former minor league baseball park and folks have great memories of that space and baseball.”

City leaders said this classic American ballpark and the field beside it have needed improvements for a long time. It was one of the projects that was identified in the Duncan Park Revisioning Plan .

We’re told the Duncan Park Revisioning Plan brought upgrades to the park’s trails, and more recently, was responsible for reopening the lake.

Officials said the next phase of the plan is improving the athletic fields.

“There will be new dugouts for the players, there will be new bleachers for spectators, improvements to the fields, overall there will also be some sunshade stuff,” George added. “There will also be funding made available for kids that can’t afford things like uniforms, bats and gloves. To make that available for them too because we don’t want it to be a barrier for anyone who wants their kids to play baseball.”

City leaders said there will also be a homage to the past that will hopefully help to inspire a new generation of baseball players.

“Whether it is minor league or we are talking about something that’s more neighborhood developed, we have a long history of (baseball) in Spartanburg. Part of this project will be a plaque that recognizes the Spartanburg Sluggers that was a Negro team that played at Duncan Park Stadium and that history has not been told as much. So in addition to improving the facility itself now you will have a historic marker to let the kids know that they are playing in a place that has seen a lot of baseball history.”

City officials told 7NEWS the renovations should be completed by spring of 2025.

The project will cost $400,000. We’re told the city and the Mary Black Foundation each contributed $100,000 each, and the Harry Dallara Foundation contributed $200,000.

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