Part of East Ridge’s $2.3 million plan to update the ballfields at Camp Jordan has been completed. The much needed renovations offer the annual 100,000 plus visitors a sports complex with a more professional appearance while attracting additional first class tournaments to the city.
Scheduled updates for the ballfields were slow to get started due to bad weather with record rainfalls. The work began with renovations of the existing concession and restroom facilities. As the weather improved, new strategically placed concession facilities were built near the baseball and softball fields and new restrooms were built near the soccer fields.
A total of thirteen softball and baseball infields were renovated within the Camp Jordan Athletic Complex. Additional enhancements included new fencing, bleachers, shade structures and park signs. The improvements are paying off as teams throughout the country signed up to play at Camp Jordan.
“We have been hosting youth softball tournaments in East Ridge at Camp Jordan for 2 years now,” said Leigh Prickett, Administrator of Champions Fastpitch Academy. “This was our first event playing there since the renovations. We like Camp Jordan because there are 12 quality fields that allow us to keep all of our teams at one park instead of spread out at multiple locations. We always seem to run into rain when we schedule events up there, including last weekend. The fields held up great! The staff is awesome and always help us put on a quality event.”
This weekend, November 9-10, Chattanooga Football Club Academy (CFCA) is hosting the 180 team soccer tournament “RiverFest Classic” at Camp Jordan. In its fifth year, this tournament is one of the region’s premier soccer tournaments in the fall featuring players from over 50 clubs from six states.
With Camp Jordan boasting an economic sales impact over $3 million and an income impact over $1.6 million (According to a study commissioned by the City in 2016) the park continues to be a significant driver of economic activity and growth in the city. The renovations and improvements assure the park remains a priority destination for people locally, statewide, nationally, and internationally.
For more information contact: East Ridge Parks and Recreation at awilson@eastridgetn.gov, 423-551-0538, www.eastridgeparksandrec.com or on Facebook at www.facebook.com/EastRidgeParksAndRec
