DOUBLEDAY FIELD TODAY
Little has changed since the 1990s at Doubleday Field. Since its early days, Doubleday Field and the surrounding property has been the site of stables, a fruit stand, luncheon, recreation, carnivals, auctions, dances, concerts, car shows, beauty pageants, and more. In addition to parking, the lot outside the ballpark still serves as a site for public events. Visitors to the mythical birthplace of baseball continue to visit Doubleday Field to pay homage to the history of the sport.
Since 2010, there has been a renewed interest in preserving Doubleday Field. Like previous renovations, the focus has been on retaining the current structure and preserving the grandstand's historic feel. The need to preserve the grandstand even reached Congress; as part of a 2010 appropriations bill, Rep. Michael Arcuri requested $400,000 to make numerous repairs.
In 2015, with the announcements of state money, the future of Doubleday Field became bright. Governor Andrew Cuomo, through New York State’s Empire Development Corporation, announced $3 million for the rehabilitation of Doubleday Field and its surroundings. State Senator James L. Seward and Assemblyman Bill Magee each announced $1 million from their respective legislative bodies.
The village continues to pay for the necessary repairs for Doubleday, and a newly energized Friends of Doubleday will be there to help. Further preservation and renovation activities will ensure that Doubleday Field can be treasured by baseball enthusiasts for generations to come.
Most photos © Alan Lincourt, www.cooperstowntimes.com