Glasgow’s $1M Stadium

By Allyson Dix, Managing Editor / Barren County Progress

 

 

Fans of the Glasgow Scotties can breathe a sigh of relief with the completion of Richardson Stadium at Royse Field as they head into the 2025 baseball season.

The Scotties are set play their opening game on March 17 against the Greenwood Gators; however, the first home game is slated for March 28.

Since the destructive fire left the wooden grandstands in ruins in July of 2022, baseball fans have had to utilize their creativity in watching the games, sometimes from far distances.

Now, attendees have bleachers to sit in, concessions to visit, nice bathrooms, and while it isn’t a replica of the good ol’ days gone by, it’s functional and meets the regulations and guidelines it is required to do.

 

 

 

 

While the baseball field and stadium is game-ready, Parks and Rec Director Eddie Furlong said a few other tasks remain before it is 100% complete, including some painting on the backstop area, installation of toilet paper dispensers, and repaving the area around the new building area. Everything except the repaving will be ready by the first home game except the paving, which is expected to happen next month at the earliest.

Furlong said, “We’re very happy that it’s finally at the finish line. It’s taken a long time to get here due to various issues, but we’re finally ready to open it up and play some games in the new setting with large ADA accessible bleachers, concessions, press box, etc.”

Both GHS’ current and former baseball coaches, Cameron Garmon and Sam Royse, respectively, have been “very complimentary of the new build”, Furlong said, with both coaches anticipating game play under the new design.

A few other tasks Furlong said will also take place that aren’t considered a part of the rebuild such as cleaning some dugout areas, fixing some lights that are out, some painting, etc.

Back in August of 2023, the stadium had stood in what the Barren County Progress (BCP) coined “a state of urban decay”, and rightly so. At that point, partially-attached tarps were dangling along the backstop fences, flapping in the wind. Vegetation was overgrown, “KEEP OUT” signs were placed, and even street signs were not upright.

 

Despite the conditions, the Scotties’ and their opponents played on a well-maintained and clean field, and assurances that other matters were safe such as electrical panels and wiring for lighting.

Glasgow Mayor Henry Royse shared concerns back in 2023 with BCP on the potential of cost increases the City would face to replace the stadium, revealing the stadium would never appear as it once was in Gorin Park, the stadium’s home since around 1950. It also lacked ADA-compliant components that are now in place. Costs substantially increased for just about everything during and in the recovery years from the COVID-19 pandemic, including materials for such a project.

 

The City of Glasgow received a check from the Kentucky League of Cities Insurance Services Association for $246,768 due to the loss after the fire, less than a quarter of what the City has paid to rebuild it.

Records obtained by BCP show that as of last month, the total cost to rebuild Richardson Stadium equates to $893,208 and some change. The most costly expense was the concrete work totaling $647,050. This included two bathrooms, press box, concession stand, and all concrete work around the new facility, with a bid awarded to Pro-Crete for this work.

Historically, Glasgow Independent Schools and the City of Glasgow have connected through lease agreements for the Scotties’ baseball field, with each entity responsible for separate items. The school pays the City of Glasgow $4,500 per year to lease the field and stadium.

The newest lease, which was signed in mid-August 2023, also notes that the City is responsible for keeping insurance policies in the event of another casualty loss (fire, flood, civil commotion, etc.) that will provide up to a full replacements if needed while the school carries the responsibility of general liability insurance for things like personal injuries, property damage, and personal property inside the ball park fences for at least $1,000,000.

The City is also responsible for the utilities, maintenance, and repairs to the main structures (grandstand, bathrooms, dugouts, etc.) while the school is responsible for the day-to-day cleaning and upkeep of same as well as equipment inside the ball park fence, according to the lease.

Glasgow High School has noted in its May 2023 district facility plan the need to construct both a high school baseball field and eight tennis courts as discretionary construction projects. However, as of mid-February 2025, the board has not initiated any process to address the baseball field portion of the facility plan, according to GIS Superintendent Chad Muhlenkamp.

 

Updated March 13 at 8:20 a.m.

This story reflects changes in the total amounts listed for the Richardson Stadium rebuild. After publication, it was brought to our attention that one line item was a duplicate entry, reducing the total cost by $150,000. Also updated are the details for the concrete work.