Investments

OYO Knows: Investments 

 

OYO is fortunate to be able to call Veterans Memorial Park home to all its baseball and softball programs and activity. As part of our lease with the City of Lawrence, OYO is contractually obligated to make significant investments annually (or the equivalent to a sum total spanning its 10-year agreement with the city). 

As a result, OYO is projected to make a minimum of $30,000 in capital improvements to the park each season. These improvements must involve only enhancements that would remain at Veterans Memorial Park if the league would ever vacate the premises (which we have absolutely zero intention of doing…it’s just the contract terminology!). 

OYO remains all responsibility for making investments to improve the playing surfaces and surrounding areas around the park. Meanwhile, the City of Lawrence continues to provide support for all asphalt projects as well as upkeep of the existing brick-and-mortar structures (e.g. storage barn and concessions stands). 

As a result, many of the improvements in the park have been noticeable of late including: 

• Higher fence backstops to keep more foul balls in the field of play and away from fans 

• Shorter outfield fence lines on softball fields for more consistency 

• Upgraded field conditions, including sod replacement and more dirt on fields for better playing conditions 

• Additional warm-up areas for pitchers 

• Improved light fixtures on Fields 2, 6, 13