With peewee football season underway, Clarksdale Bears coach Kelvin Stacker is looking to make improvements to his team’s field at David Self Park on Espy Drive.
Stacker approached the Clarksdale Park Commission during the August board meeting with requests and putting in a new scoreboard highlighted much of the discussion. The commission did agree to let director John Carraway look into fulfilling the requests to make improvements to the park, but some projects will take longer than others.
“Right now, everything is going pretty good,” Stacker said. “Just got a few things we need out there.”
Stacker said most of the issues were small, but he did believe a scoreboard could cost $2,000.
Carraway said he did not have a price on a scoreboard.
“I can get you all a price range to you,” he said.
Stacker said he could possibly borrow a portable scoreboard from the Coahoma County Expo Center to use.
“We’ve got to have a scoreboard out there,” Stacker said.
The possibility of purchasing a portable scoreboard for the long term was discussed.
“Kelvin, what kind of scoreboard are you talking about?” said board member Melide Gaddy.
Carraway said a portable scoreboard would be cheaper.
“If we get a portable one, that would be great, too,” Stacker said.
“It sits on the table,” said Carraway explaining how a portable scoreboard works.
Stacker said a tabletop is also used for the portable scoreboard at the Expo Center.
Carraway said a football scoreboard might be cheaper than one for baseball, in spite of a baseball scoreboard having clocks.
“There might be a little more to it, but I’ll check and see,” Carraway said.
Carraway said a circuit breaker on a pole would make a portable scoreboard work.
“A portable will work,” said board chair Joel Litton in agreement, adding there are reasonable prices.
Stacker also said there was no press box at the park and he would like to be some type of shelf.
“It doesn’t have to be anything fancy,” Stacker said.
“There’s never been a press box there,” replied Carraway.
“We have one at all the other parks,” said Stacker in response.
“The only ones that have them are the old parks that have been here since the ‘50s,’40s,” Carraway explained.
Carraway said there cannot just be a stairway for the press box, as it must be safe.
Stacker said a light switch was needed for the concession stand and restroom and there were issues with the refrigerator.
Carraway said just part of the refrigerator was working.
Stacker said he would like to see the gate where fans come into the park by the restroom.
“Most of the time, when people come from out of town, they’ll look for the restroom,” Stacker said.
Stacker said there could be a sign near the gate letting people know where the restroom is.
“You want to move it over to where the old score table was?” Carraway said.
“Yes, Sir,” replied Stacker.
Litton said the scoreboard and press box were the two biggest issues and Carraway should be able to take care of Stacker’s other requests.
“The press box, that’s a lot bigger issue,” Litton said.
“You can do it over time,” said Carraway in agreement. “You just can’t do it at one time.”
Some of the issues had been raised in the past, including getting a new scoreboard, which was discussed last season. However, board member Barbara Morris felt Stacker should have come to the board sooner.
“We should have known all this before then,” she said.
Carraway said he would get prices together.
“About half there’s not a lot of issue to,” he said. “The other half it’s going to take a few months.”
