Parent brings conditions at Paul Eames complex to Albany City Commission’s attention

ALBANY — Recent thefts of wiring at Paul Eames Sports Complex netted hundreds of pounds of copper wiring with an estimated value in the hundreds of thousands of dollars.

One consequence of those thefts is that Dougherty County School System baseball teams, all of which play home games at the stadium, were unable to play night games, forcing them to play scheduled home doubleheaders away for the 2023 season, a parent said.

“There was a copper theft on Jan. 12, 2023,” Christopher Jones, whose freshman son, also named Christopher, played at Westover High School and was named The Albany Herald’s 2023 Freshman Player of the Year, said. “As a result, the student athletes do not have access to lights.

“When we do have home games, it’s embarrassing. We have no restrooms. There’s no scoreboard. Again, we don’t have power.”

Instead of restrooms, portable toilets were used instead, the father said during an Albany City Commission meeting this week.

Having to play home scheduled doubleheaders away meant more long trips to play in places like Columbus, games that should have been played in Albany.

“It’s more travel, so it’s more expensive on the schools,” Jones said. “A doubleheader starts at 5:30 (p.m.), and they end about 9. Those are late nights for the kids. They won’t get home until 11:30, midnight, and they have to go to school the next day.”

Jones said he previously spoke to the Dougherty County School Board about the issue and that board recommended that he also address the City Commission about the issue.

Student athletes have options to play for other area schools, and those schools are eager to pick up talented players, Jones said. He does not want his son, who was also an all-region player in his freshman year, to have to look at other options.

“I can name three kids just off our team who won’t be returning next year,” he said. “It’s just bad. It’s frustrating. It seems everybody who should be aware is not aware,

“A lot of people on the (school) board were not aware. We just want them to be aware, so maybe we can do something about it.”

Albany Mayor Bo Dorough responded to Jones’ remarks, saying that the commission will look into the issue. He also suggested the city consult with the school system.

“I want to say on behalf of the commission, if we didn’t have restrooms, I apologize,” the mayor said. “We’re embarrassed about it. We should do a better job. We need to do a better job investing in the park. You brought this issue to a head. For you, other parents and the student athletes, we need to do better.”

The Albany Police Department, which was on watch in the area around the sports complex due to earlier thefts, arrested three suspects at around midnight on Jan. 13 and also recovered evidence in the case.

Staff Photo: Alan MauldinAlanMauldin[email protected]
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