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Prospect Meadows ready to play ball (again)

June 4, 2020 | Angela Jordan

Re open story

There have not been any baseball games at Prospect Meadows since the first weekend in March due to the pandemic, but that’s about to change.

The Game Day organization will be holding its Silver Series Championships here this Friday, Saturday and Sunday (June 5-7) now that Iowa Gov. Kim Reynolds has lifted the ban on youth sports.

Approximately 50 teams will be headed to Prospect Meadows to play ball in the Game Day event.

“It feels good, getting a somewhat return to normal,” said Steve James, the General Manager at Prospect Meadows. “At this point we don’t know what the new normal will be entirely, but it’s good to bring back a little bit of normal activity for the players and fans.”

The first weekend in March was ideal for baseball, with unseasonably warm temperatures and blue skies. The Perfect Game high school spring league staged a bunch of games at Prospect Meadows that Saturday and Sunday, and the Upper Iowa University baseball team drove down from Fayette to play two doubleheaders.

That was the start of the season, and as it turned out it was the end of the season for three months as the corona virus pandemic swept the country. The virus has not entirely disappeared, but Gov. Reynolds and health officials have given the green light to play with certain guidelines.

Prospect Meadows management has conferred with local officials, and are following Federal, State and Local guidelines, to insure the safety of the guests as they re-open.

CLICK ON THIS LINK TO SEE ALL THE GUIDELINES.

The concession stands and restrooms at Prospect Meadows will be open, but the bleachers will be closed. Fans can bring lawn chairs and blankets to sit on. There are social distancing guidelines, and anyone who is not feeling well is encouraged to stay away.

There will be posted signs at Prospect Meadows, reminding people to frequently wash their hands and use a sanitizer. Protective masks are encouraged, but optional.

“We just encourage people to be responsible and respectful of everyone else around them at the park,” said James.

There also will be on-field guidelines for players and coaches to keep everyone as safe as possible, with limited use of dugouts and social distancing. Players may bring their own drinks, but fans are not allowed to bring in outside food or drinks.

Perfect Game will be holding its Midwest Elite championships June 12-14 to begin its series of major tournaments this year at Prospect Meadows. The Positive Sports Training youth baseball and softball programs and the PG softball program will be playing night-league games at the park beginning this month.

The Kiwanis Miracle League and the League of Dreams programs for the spring and early summer have been canceled, but the Miracle League plans to begin a new season in August.

James thinks visitors will notice some obvious improvements at Prospect Meadows since the park opened last year. With no games for the past three months, the staff has given the facility a lot of “TLC” with tender loving care.

“I think the biggest thing people will recognize is how the facility has matured, with the grass and landscaping,” he remarked.

It’s time to come back and see.

Angela Jordan