Former home to Durham Bulls
On April 24 1902, the Durham Tobacconists played the first game of minor league baseball in Durham in an exhibition outing against the Trinity College baseball club. Exactly eleven years later to the day, in 1913 the newly formed Durham Bulls baseball team played its first game on Hanes Field, in the present day East Campus of Duke University. Hanes Field has since been re-named Williams Field, and is home to the Duke Field Hockey Team. The first Durham Athletic Park burnt down in 1939 and the current ballpark was built in time for Opening Day just two weeks later. Since 1939, the ballpark has been home to the Durham Bulls, the Durham Americans, the Durham Dragons, the Coastal Plain League, and countless scholastic and amateur recreational leagues. The City of Durham and SBER look forward to adding North Carolina Central University to that list on Opening Day of the 2009 Season!
The City has long planned to create a “baseball main street” which would link the two ballparks through he the development of a variety of retail, restaurant, residential uses. The first components of this pan are well under way with the completion of new ballpark and redevelopment of the American Tobacco Complex. The next component includes the restoration of the DAP to its historic roots.
SBER was the developer for the City of Durham to coordinate design, and will serve as Construction Manager for the project. Renovations will restore the DAP to a condition that preserves its unique architectural features and quirky outfield conditions, and celebrates its place in both the social fabric of the community and the history of the game of baseball. While the DAP will remain a public facility, it will be operated and maintained by Minor League Baseball, which will continue the current programming offered by the Durham Parks and Recreation and bring additional activities such as: North Carolina Central University men’s baseball team, festivals and concerts, outdoor movies, and other private functions.
The renovation project will upgrade the infrastructure, restrooms, concessions, and seating bowl, while at the same time creating picnic areas and concourses that reflect the historic quality of the ballpark. A new state of the art playing field will be installed and will be maintained by Minor League Baseball professionals. The total cost of the project is $5 million. Construction will start in the Summer of 2008 and the ballpark will be complete in early 2009.
The redevelopment of DAP will serve as an economic engine for this district of downtown Durham and will create an entertainment district, anchoring the redevelopment in Durham Central Park and tying the neighborhood to the new Durham Bulls Athletic Park. This redevelopment effort will create a vibrant urban community that brings activity to the downtown area from morning to evening.
Fran Weld
443-543-4000