Construction continues to move forward at the Grizzly Family Sports Park, with several major projects underway or nearing completion thanks to the generous support of local businesses, organizations and community partners.
West Plains Bank recently announced its support of the project, and the front entry building will officially be known as the West Plains Bank Entry Plaza. The facility will serve as the primary entrance to the complex and will include a ticket booth, an apparel shop operated by the MSU-WP Bookstore, a concession stand, athletic trainer’s room, private single-stall restrooms, an umpire room and a conference room.
The baseball dugouts have now been roofed thanks to donated labor from Holden Construction. Dugout furnishings have also arrived and are being assembled and installed this week. These additions include player benches, helmet and bat racks, coaches’ stations, cooler racks and overhead shelving for player equipment. The dugout furnishings and protective rail padding were sponsored by Silver Springs, LLC.
Installation of the State Farm Insurance Scoreboard took place this week with donated assistance from Butler Crane Service. Last week, the Ozarks Healthcare 30-foot foul poles were installed, marking another major step toward completion of the baseball field.
Work is also nearing completion on the press box, which was sponsored by Restoring Hope of West Plains. The lower level will provide storage space, while the upper floor will include two rooms for audio operations, scorekeeping and scoreboard operations. An additional dedicated room will be available for radio and broadcast partners covering games at the facility.
New Bermuda TifTuf sod has been installed throughout foul territory, including the halo area extending between the dugouts and behind home plate. Special thanks to John Richards of Richards Brothers for his assistance with grass establishment. A French drain and warning track material were also installed by County Line Fence and Construction of Thayer, Missouri, helping improve both drainage and the overall finished appearance of the field.
Additional concrete work is scheduled to begin this week by Twin Lakes Construction to prepare areas for additional side bleachers. Those bleachers, along with stadium-seat grandstands located in front of the press box, are expected to be installed later this month. The seating project is being sponsored by Jones Eye Center.
Brick and stone work will also soon begin around the base of the complex flagpole, which was donated by the Sunrise Rotary Club of West Plains.
On-deck batting circles arrived and are ready for use, sponsored by Community First Bank of West Plains.
Construction of the Simmons Bank Grizzly Bullpen is expected to begin soon. Work in that area has been temporarily delayed while equipment is moved in and out for scoreboard installation. On the opposite side of the field, the West Plains Board of Realtors Visitors Bullpen in the right-field corner is now largely complete.
Once construction on the baseball field is fully completed, attention will turn to the Taylor Grubaugh Grizzly Field House, located just beyond center field. Plans for the facility include the installation of indoor batting cages and turf, providing year-round training opportunities for student-athletes.
Looking ahead, plans are currently being developed for Gant Field, which will include the construction and completion of the softball side of the Grizzly Family Sports Park. The goal is for both the baseball and softball programs to be fully transitioned to the complex for the 2027–2028 seasons.
The Grizzly Family Sports Park is being made possible entirely through private donations and the generous support of businesses, organizations and individuals throughout the community. Construction, fundraising and development efforts are coordinated by the West Plains Area Dugout Club, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization.
For More Information Contact:
West Plains Area Dugout Club on Facebook
or by email at:
westplainsareadugoutclub@gmail.com
