Paducah approves equipment, turf, lighting and construction work to restore championship field; names new sports park general manager

The Paducah Board of Commissioners on Jan. 28, 2025, approved four municipal orders to restore the championship field and buy concession equipment for the Paducah Sports Park and heard an introduction to the park’s new general manager.

The commission unanimously approved contracts and contract modifications totaling $2,601,738: $664,721 to Avanti Restaurant Solutions for food-service equipment; $772,492 to Sprint Turf LLC for synthetic turf and drainage; a $999,000 contract modification to A and K Construction for grading, fill and field perimeter work; and $165,525 to Musco Sports Lighting LLC for field lighting. The votes were taken by roll call and recorded as unanimous ayes.

The actions follow the commission’s earlier decision to restore the championship field, which had been removed in a prior cost-reduction step. The contract with A and K Construction includes 20,000 cubic yards of fill to raise the championship field approximately three feet to eliminate elevation changes around the field; the Sprint Turf scope covers the full-size soccer surface (240 feet by 360 feet) and associated drainage and curbs; Musco’s work covers poles and LED fixtures; and Avanti’s contract covers full concession equipment for Buildings 3 and 4.

The board also heard an introduction to the sports park staff. "My name is Chastity Herron. I actually go by Chas. I'm the new general manager for the Paducah Sports Park," Chastity Herron said, describing a background of 24 years in the nonprofit world and more recent roles in sports-facilities finance and operations. Herron said tournament-rights discussions have already begun with organizations including Perfect Game and the American Baseball Coaches Association and that formal bookings would follow completion of the complex.

Jeff (staff member) summarized construction details, saying the championship field supports both a full-size soccer field and a full-size baseball field suitable for high school play, and that the work will include dugout slabs, fencing, netting, foul poles, foundations and bleacher provisions. He described an entry plaza and berm design to create an arrival experience linking parking and the championship field and said additional conceptual design and budget pricing is under way.

Commissioners framed the approvals as restoring a key element of the sports-park master plan and addressing user safety by reducing elevation changes around the field. Several commissioners noted adjacent private investment—hotels—and the potential economic benefit from tournaments.

The commission authorized the mayor to execute related documents and contract modifications. No amendments to the vendor contracts were recorded at the meeting.

The board also received an update about the Stuart Nelson memorial elements: salvaged railing from an on-site historic platform will be stored and reused in the memorial area. Staff said reuse of salvaged elements had been completed and materials are stored on site.

The commission’s approvals put the championship field back into the project scope and set the work to proceed under the amended contracts and vendor scopes.