14-05-2025
Accessibility upgrades coming to Rickwood Field
BIRMINGHAM, Ala. (WIAT) — The city of Birmingham is investing $900,000 into Rickwood Field. The city said the money will be used to make the facility more accessible.
According to the Gerald Watkins, the executive director of the Friends of Rickwood, the ballpark was grandfathered into not having to meet Americans with Disabilities Act regulations. Now, it's choosing to make upgrades thanks to support from the city and in anticipation of some big games that are coming up.
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He said these are necessary upgrades that make sure everyone can enjoy baseball at Rickwood Field.
'We want the ballpark to be seen by as many people as possible, and we don't want those with special needs to have difficulties here,' Watkins said. 'So we are really happy those things are going to happen and as we come up on a very ambitious summer. We are going to have the SWAC tournament next week. We have the Barons coming back June 4 to play the Trash Pandas, the World Police and Fire Games, and we have the East-West Game.'
There's no timetable for when these improvements will be made, but Watkins said temporary improvements will be made for events in the near future.
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