Page 7 - TN Public Works May-June Vol. 32 No.1
P. 7
The site chosen for this world-class facil- Development Director Susan Whitaker, Hayes, “Yes, it’s about sports. But this is
ity was a former borrow pit for soil for the a veteran tourism marketing executive really about empowering and impacting
adjacent closed landfill. It presented many recognized as the 2013 National Tourism young lives. They are active. They are play-
design challenges that had to be overcome. Director of the Year by the U.S. Travel As- ing a sport they love, a sport that might
A prominent characteristic was the 40 sociations’ National Council of State Travel help them get to college one day.”
feet of grade change across the site. This Directors, reports that the tourism market The National Softball Association (NSA)
dictated the design approach that formed is growing again. has also played a pivotal role in attracting
the fields into three different terraces, with “You talk about economic development, sports fans to Chattanooga. Established in
the upper terrace providing a picturesque tourism is just a juggernaut,” Whitaker says. 1982 by Cantrell in Lexington, Kentucky,
view of the entire complex. A large petro- If you build it, they will come? Hayes NSA offers Parks and Recreation Depart-
leum pipeline traversing the site was also credits Major League Baseball’s Reviving ments the opportunity to send softball
particularly challenging. Construction and Baseball in Inner Cities (RBI) and other teams to state, national regional, and
grading were limited within the pipeline national programs with encouraging ur - World Series tournaments through NSA
easement. This challenge was met by locat- ban youngsters to start playing softball and sanctioned leagues and qualifying tourna-
ing two fields on either side of the pipeline baseball. The RBI group in Chattanooga ments. NSA also provides opportunities to
and using the raised pipeline easement to gave the city $10,000 for baseball uni- host tournaments. According to Cantrell,
create a grass berm between the fields for forms in 2013 and has helped encourage “The NSA is an organization with the
spectator seating. an estimated 1,500 local youths, including Parks and Recreation Director in mind.”
The Summit of Softball complex is a 500 girls, to participate in the sport. Said See you at the ballpark!
shining example of the impact tourna-
ment-quality facilities can have on gener -
ating tourism and its contribution to eco-
nomic growth and stability. Tourism is one
of Tennessee’s largest industries, providing
a $15.36 billion direct economic impact
and generating more than $1 billion annu-
ally in state and local sales tax revenue for
the past six years. Tennessee is now ranked
ninth among all states in total travel.
Tennessee Department of Tourist
Top left: National Softball Association founder Hugh Cantrell was on hand at the Summit of Softball
Grand Opening. Top right: Custom site furnishings give the Summit of Softball complex a “big league”
feel. Below: High tech capabilities on and off the field and extra details cater to the needs and comfort
of players, spectators, coaches, and families. Chattanooga’s Summit of Softball has an environmentally
conscious design with natural settings and pleasing landscapes.
Aerial of the Summit of Softball
complex in Chattanooga which
has eight laser-graded fields that
accommodate softball and baseball.
TPW May/June 2014 7
ity was a former borrow pit for soil for the a veteran tourism marketing executive really about empowering and impacting
adjacent closed landfill. It presented many recognized as the 2013 National Tourism young lives. They are active. They are play-
design challenges that had to be overcome. Director of the Year by the U.S. Travel As- ing a sport they love, a sport that might
A prominent characteristic was the 40 sociations’ National Council of State Travel help them get to college one day.”
feet of grade change across the site. This Directors, reports that the tourism market The National Softball Association (NSA)
dictated the design approach that formed is growing again. has also played a pivotal role in attracting
the fields into three different terraces, with “You talk about economic development, sports fans to Chattanooga. Established in
the upper terrace providing a picturesque tourism is just a juggernaut,” Whitaker says. 1982 by Cantrell in Lexington, Kentucky,
view of the entire complex. A large petro- If you build it, they will come? Hayes NSA offers Parks and Recreation Depart-
leum pipeline traversing the site was also credits Major League Baseball’s Reviving ments the opportunity to send softball
particularly challenging. Construction and Baseball in Inner Cities (RBI) and other teams to state, national regional, and
grading were limited within the pipeline national programs with encouraging ur - World Series tournaments through NSA
easement. This challenge was met by locat- ban youngsters to start playing softball and sanctioned leagues and qualifying tourna-
ing two fields on either side of the pipeline baseball. The RBI group in Chattanooga ments. NSA also provides opportunities to
and using the raised pipeline easement to gave the city $10,000 for baseball uni- host tournaments. According to Cantrell,
create a grass berm between the fields for forms in 2013 and has helped encourage “The NSA is an organization with the
spectator seating. an estimated 1,500 local youths, including Parks and Recreation Director in mind.”
The Summit of Softball complex is a 500 girls, to participate in the sport. Said See you at the ballpark!
shining example of the impact tourna-
ment-quality facilities can have on gener -
ating tourism and its contribution to eco-
nomic growth and stability. Tourism is one
of Tennessee’s largest industries, providing
a $15.36 billion direct economic impact
and generating more than $1 billion annu-
ally in state and local sales tax revenue for
the past six years. Tennessee is now ranked
ninth among all states in total travel.
Tennessee Department of Tourist
Top left: National Softball Association founder Hugh Cantrell was on hand at the Summit of Softball
Grand Opening. Top right: Custom site furnishings give the Summit of Softball complex a “big league”
feel. Below: High tech capabilities on and off the field and extra details cater to the needs and comfort
of players, spectators, coaches, and families. Chattanooga’s Summit of Softball has an environmentally
conscious design with natural settings and pleasing landscapes.
Aerial of the Summit of Softball
complex in Chattanooga which
has eight laser-graded fields that
accommodate softball and baseball.
TPW May/June 2014 7
