Kickball Enthusiasts Want to Tag Out Park Renovation

Upgrades to an Uptown park have some people crying foul.

Griggs Park will undergo a makeover in September that will include a walking path, tennis courts, new irrigation and a new playground. But the two baseball diamonds and the lights that keep the park packed at night will be removed.

The baseball diamonds are used by several popular kickball and flag football leagues in Uptown.

"Being an Uptown resident who participates in many of these leagues, it's such a great thing to walk out your front door and walk two blocks and play in leagues with you all your friends," said Mike Violi, of the Dallas Sport and Social Club.

Jim Reagan, of Uptown Dallas Inc., said the renovation plans have been in the works for years, including plans to remove the two baseball diamonds.

"Of course, it almost has to come out of the park to make it into the vision we have for the park," he said.

The $1 million project will be paid for with public funds and private money from local trusts and homeowners associations.

Reagan said the new plans reflect input from the owners of homes and condos in the area, but Violi said many Uptown residents still don't know about the plans to change Griggs Park.

Samantha Walter, who lives in a condo under the glare of the field lights, said  parking is at a premium during games.

"You come home from work, and there is no parking," she said. "There's no parking for my guests. There's little parking as is."

But Violi said he isn't giving up. He started an e-mail campaign to city officials, hoping they'll spare the baseball diamonds.

"I think we still have a chance, because it's still unknown to the people at large and the people that use the park," he said.