On June 26, I sent the following letter to the Springfield Park District board of directors.
I am writing to you with a profound sense of urgency and concern regarding the current state of Robin Roberts Stadium – a facility that should be a source of pride for the city of Springfield, especially as we prepare to host 17 visiting communities from across the Midwest for the 2025 Prospect League All-Star Game July 7-8.
Unfortunately, the stadium is in a state of disrepair that is not only unacceptable, but potentially dangerous, and undeniably embarrassing for a city with such a rich baseball tradition. While we appreciate the Springfield Park District’s efforts in the past, the current approach to maintenance and facility management has proven unsustainable. We are at a critical tipping point, and it is imperative that immediate, decisive action be taken to ensure that Robin Roberts Stadium does not follow the path of other neglected facilities like Chamberlain Park.
To cite just a few urgent and pressing issues:
Air conditioning failures: Four AC units have been down for over a week, subjecting staff, umpires and players to extreme and unsafe temperatures.
Field and stadium conditions: The warning track poses safety risks, field drainage is inadequate and there is zero maintenance beyond mowing and lining. Weeds, flowers and other plants are overtaking the playing surface and inconsistent irrigation is leading to dead grass and dangerously dusty playing conditions.
Concession and restroom facilities: There are active leaks in the main concession area, raising serious health code concerns. Women’s restrooms have locked stalls due to deferred maintenance, reducing access for fans. Rotting wood on concession doors adds to the unsafe and unsightly environment.
Electrical and lighting failures: Stadium lights are out, common area bulbs go unreplaced and electrical failures have impacted both the scoreboard and the public address system – vital components of the fan and player experience.
Sanitation and cleanliness: Trash and debris are regularly left uncollected. Stains and messes remain after events. Overgrowth of weeds and nonfunctional facade lighting at the entrance create a poor first impression of the stadium.
ADA noncompliance: The lack of sufficient ADA seating is a recurring concern from senior and disabled attendees. This is both a moral and legal issue that cannot be ignored.
The cumulative impact of these issues cannot be overstated. The facility is not just aging – it is deteriorating rapidly. And as we prepare to welcome regional attention in less than two weeks, the risks to our city’s reputation and the safety of everyone who uses the stadium grow by the day.
We respectfully urge the Springfield Park District board of directors to take immediate steps to pressure the executive director and relevant departments to address these problems without further delay. Robin Roberts Stadium deserves not just to be preserved but revitalized. We owe it to the legacy of the stadium, to our players and fans, and to the city of Springfield – particularly the taxpayers – to ensure that this venue reflects the pride and professionalism our community is known for.
Time is of the essence. We ask for your leadership and swift action to prevent this historic stadium from becoming another lost facility.
This article appears in Grillin’ & Chillin’.
I find it disappointing to the point of exasperation that the ownership team of the Lucky Horseshoes has to resort to begging the community to pressure the park district to live up to an agreement they signed decades ago when they assumed control of the ballpark (and associated property tax revenue) from the old parks and recreation department of the city. This ownership group is doing all they can to provide family friendly, enjoyable entertainment in an historic space that could be a jewel for the community rather than a source of seeming irritation for the park district.
I speak as a fan and as a host family that has taken eleven players in while they’re here playing for the team for the last eight seasons and can see the difference this new ownership group is making. They have quickly developed a league-wide reputation for taking care of the players as well as the visiting teams, pushing the envelope on energy and excitement at the games, emphasizing local players and local products in the concessions, and bringing in nationally known players and celebrities for special events. They spent several hundred thousand to put in a state of the art scoreboard, and they’ve done all they can to put a brighter face on a canvass that is clearly lacking.
Jamie and the ownership team sees the potential of the historic Robin Roberts Stadium and is ready to invest substantially in the facility if the park district will just get out of the way. For an organization whose recent planning documents clearly state they “…do not want to be in the ballpark business…” or something along those lines (I’m paraphrasing), they sure do seem to be doing all they can to stand in the way of moving on from it. And I say this knowing several members of the board personally. Again, disappointing. With so much progress being made with the rail project, transportation hub, Pillsbury, Scheels Sports Park, and the eventual 3rd Street corridor redevelopment, the park district is making it clear through their actions (or lack thereof) that getting the ballpark out of the their hands HAS to happen or it won’t be long before another baseball team leaves and it looks just like Chamberlain – only right along a brand new road and overpass and right next to the new LHS football stadium. And for what? Why stand in the way?
What the ‘Shoes have done in a few short years is impressive, and their plans for the future are even more so. Hopefully we as a community can get out of their way and reap the benefits of their gift of energy and their appreciation for the ballpark and baseball in the Springfield area.
Steve Schoeffel, Springfield, IL
Is anyone really surprised at this sad state of affairs?