Luter pitches $1.3 million idea to Smithfield

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SMITHFIELD, Oct 08, 2009 (Daily Press - McClatchy-Tribune Information Services via COMTEX) -- SFD | Quote | Chart | News | PowerRating -- Former Smithfield Foods executive Joseph Luter III has pitched a proposal to build a $1.3 million lighted baseball complex at Windsor Castle Park, although town officials haven't decided yet if they are in the game.

Luter, who has already committed up to $6 million for the purchase and development of the historic 208-acre farm into a waterfront park is offering to build up to six ball fields for the Smithfield Recreation League, said Luter's spokesman, Lawrence Pitt, who is overseeing park construction. With more than 360 children on its spring and fall ball rosters, the league has long since outgrown its three fields at Beale Park and can't expand without more space, said league officials.

On Tuesday, Pitt asked the Smithfield Town Council to consider leasing part of the park property -- ideally, about 15 acres located off Jericho Road -- to the recreation league for the athletic fields.

If the project gets the town's blessing, Luter will hire a consultant to work with the recreation league on the design, said Pitt. Although no formal plans have been done, he envisions five fields and a practice field, all built to Little League specifications, batting cages and other amenities: bleachers, a field house and concession stand.

But some town officials question whether the historic Windsor Castle -- which has been touted largely as a natural area with walking trails, scenic outlooks and a kayak launch -- is the best place for new ball fields.

"This is totally outside the box for what we had in mind for the park ... and I have a lot of concerns," said Mayor Dave Hare. Council members questioned the effect of field lights on the scenic view, and referred the issue to subcommittees for additional discussion.

Hare said he expects the council to make a decision by November.

The proposal is a "blessing" for Smithfield Recreation, which operates on a shoestring $80,000 budget that relies heavily on concession sales and registration fees for funding from year to year, said Danny Hughes, the league's president. Right now, the league, which has 42 teams of players ranging from ages 4 to 16, has to rotate its games between ball fields at Beale Park, Nike Park and the Luter Family YMCA.

"This is a dream come true for my organization," said Hughes, who learned of Luter's offer about two months ago. "We would never be able to raise enough money to do anything like this on our own."

Ray Todd, league vice president, added that downtown businesses would benefit with the increased traffic coming into town for weekend tournaments.

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