OKLAHOMA CITY, Okla. — The Amateur Softball Association of America (ASA) announced today that the Heritage Park Softball Complex in St. Joseph, Mo., has been selected as the 2009 ASA Complex of the Year presented by Stabilizer Solutions Ballyard Products. In addition to receiving the award, the Heritage Park Softball Complex will also receive approximately $2,000 in field maintenance products from Stabilizer Solutions.
“Congratulations to Heritage Park for receiving the 2009 ASA Complex of the Year Award,” said Stabilizer Solutions President Jon Hubbs. “Stabilizer Solutions is proud to partner with the ASA on this award for the fourth consecutive year. It is an honor to be able to recognize one of the top ASA softball facilities in the nation and encourage others to strive for this award.”

Previous award winners are the Twin Creeks Softball Complex in Woodstock, Ga., in 2008, and Freedom Ridge Park Complex in Ridgeland, Miss., in 2007. The Field of Dreams Complex in Las Cruces, N.M., won the inaugural 2006 award.

“This prestigious award from the ASA and Stabilizer Solutions validates the efforts of the staff which operates the Heritage Park Softball Complex,” St. Joseph’s Senior Recreation Supervisor Mike Halloran said. “This park which has hosted numerous state, regional and national championship events will use this designation to attract and retain quality championship events. Each and every person associated with Heritage Park, from the maintenance, concession, administration and volunteer staffs will cherish this award.”

Heritage Park, operated by the City of St. Joseph Parks, Recreation and Civic Facilities Department, opened in spring 2003, following two years of construction from October 2001 to March 2003. The 25-acre facility has five playing fields overseen full-time by Brian Jackson, the athletic field supervisor. The fields are used year round for softball tournaments, most recently including the 2009 ASA Girls’ A 14-Under Fast Pitch Northern National Championships, and even a one-day community fitness and kickball day.

“One of the original goals of Heritage Park since its opening in 2003, is to try to make it better each day, each month and especially each year,” Halloran said. “The staff prides itself on keeping the facility, especially the playing fields in great shape on a daily basis. Along with the manicured grounds, treating each and every visitor to the complex with the utmost in kindness, courtesy and respect is of the utmost importance to each and every staff person and volunteer.”

The facility also has a 42 by 54 foot playground area that is covered with a shade structure to prevent injury from foul balls. Three sides of the playground are fenced while the fourth side has benches with shade for parents. Heritage Park also has two areas between fields, one a deck area and another a flat brick patio, that are covered with umbrellas, often providing a comfortable place to eat the affordable food and drink from the concession stand.

In 2010, Heritage Park will host the ASA Girls’ B 18-Under Fast Pitch Northern National Championships along with a variety of other ASA approved events.

About ASA

The Amateur Softball Association, founded in 1933, is the National Governing Body of softball in the United States and a member of the United States Olympic Committee. The ASA has become one of the nation’s largest sports organizations and now sanctions competition in every state through a network of 77 local associations. The ASA has grown from a few hundred teams in the early days to over 210,000 teams today, representing a membership of more than three million. For more information on the ASA, visit www.asasoftball.com.

This article was submitted by Jamie Blanchard, Coordinator of Marketing & Communications for ASA/USA Softball