Liberty Stadium Renovation Celebrated by Sedalia Community

A special ceremony was held Thursday evening by Sedalia Parks & Rec to celebrate the recently completed $2.6 million renovation of Dey Field at Liberty Stadium, built in 1937 as a Works Progress Administration project.

Professional Contractors and Engineers (PCE), Columbia, was the general contractor on the project. Work began Aug. 7 and was originally expected to be finished by May 22, but was pushed back. The ceremony took place on the last day of spring.

Financially, the renovation was made possible through a Missouri Department of Economic Development grant, according to Sedalia Parks & Rec Director Amy Epple, who emceed the ceremony. She credited grant writer and Assistant Director of Parks John Simmons, who was successful in obtaining the $2.6 million grant.

“We also have the support of the CVB board,” Epple said, singling out Carolyn Crooker for recognition.

Epple then gave thanks to a litany of community supporters, such as Kent Lange, Junior & Senior Legion Baseball, SFCC, Jud Kindle, Smith-Cotton Athletics, Sacred Heart, Amanda Blackburn, State Rep. Brad Pollitt, Kyle Herrick, Brad Grupe, Sue Heckart, Chad Jackson, (the late) Charlie Marshall, and the Marshall Family.

“Many people helped make this grant happen, it wasn’t just a few. And it could not have been done without the support of the Park Board at the City Council.

Self-guided tours of the stadium were available from 5 to 6 p.m. Parks & Rec employees offered visitors free stickers, magnets and water bottles with the Liberty Stadium logo attached, as well as boxes of Cracker Jack.

The weather cooperated very well for the event, which was attended by Sedalia Mayor Andrew Dawson, Sedalia City Council members, Sedalia Park Board members, Parks & Rec employees, former players & coaches, as well as benefactors such as Russell and Julie Childers.

Epple also credited the many volunteers who have pitched in and helped maintain the facility over the years, such as Larry Jackson, Jeff Mays and his wife Missy. “Jeff probably spent more time here than at home,” Epple noted. “Thank you guys for the sacrifices you have made.”

The first four rows in the stadium have individual and numbered retractable seats, while behind them are nine rows of metal benches. Four huge fans were installed overhead in the historic structure, and were in use Thursday. Dey Field was full of bright greens with yellow trim at the top of the fencing and outlining the gates.

The parking lot will be the last phase of the renovation, which will have to be done in the fall. Epple explained that paving the parking lot requires four days in a row with nothing going on at Liberty Stadium.

The turf was more than half of the project, followed by new fencing, new concessions, new bathroom facilities, dugout improvements and giant fans installed in the ceiling.

“And the locker rooms. I want to give a huge shout out to RacJac. This part of the project was not done with a grant, but with a huge donation from Russell and Julie,” Epple stressed. “This is going to be a huge improvement … so thank you for investing in your community and stepping up. There was no asking … they came to us, and that says a lot about Russell and Julie."

Epple also gave credit to Architect Rob Rollings on the project. “Rob is here, this is his home. He wants to make sure it’s done right. So I appreciate it, Rob.”

Epple also credited Sedalia City Council. “We could not do this without you guys. Thank you for always supporting the park board and the parks department, and helping us push to continue giving Sedalia the best we can do.”

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And Epple credited her staff, whom she called “rock stars” in her speech.

“I can’t thank you guys enough for everything you guys do. I have the best team in the state, I know that. They are great, they are passionate about what they do, and I never have to ask them twice. A lot of times I will ask them about something, & I hear ‘it’s already done,’ Epple recalled. “They’re on top of it, and that’s why the parks department is as successful as it is, because of the team that we have.”

Epple also gave a shout out to Interim City Administrator Matthew Wirt and Mayor Dawson.

In his speech, Mayor Dawson asked the crowd “Who’s ready to play ball?”

Dawson said he hopes the $2.6 million spent on the renovation of the 88-year-old stadium will keep the facility going for another 90 years.

“Things like this are possible when we come together as a community, when we push forward and move in a positive direction,” Mayor concluded.

Riley Bradley, a recent graduate of Sacred Heart High School, delivered a beautiful a cappella rendition of the National Anthem over the stadium’s PA system. Loud cheers of approval and whistles filled the stadium as he finished The Star-Spangled Banner. Bradley has plans to attend SFCC in the fall and major in music at the community college.

Coach Warren Dey then threw out the “first pitch” to Coach Jeff  Mays, who unfortunately fumbled the catch, but recovered nicely.

The evening was punctuated by an All-Star baseball game, populated by the best post-high school players in the area from several schools. Epple said she hopes that the all-star game will continue into the future as a Sedalia tradition.

In the top photo: S-C grad and former Sedalia #200 coach and Jeff City teacher Warren Dey throws out the first pitch prior to an All-Star baseball game played at Dey Field at Liberty Stadium Thursday evening.