Case Statement 

The Friends of Duncan Park is a non-profit organization comprised of local citizens committed to assisting the City of Spartanburg in revitalizing the oldest baseball stadium in the state of South Carolina.  Duncan Park Stadium has been the host to professional minor league baseball from its inception in 1926 until 1994. During this span, the St. Louis Browns, Cleveland Indians and Philadelphia Phillies sent through Spartanburg en route to the major leagues rising baseball stars including Ryne Sandberg, Larry Bowa, Scott Rolen and countless others who played for opposing teams.  Lou Gehrig and the New York Yankees played in Duncan Park during a 1937 exhibition game as well.

All the while, the park continues to play host the local American Legion baseball program and most recently the Spartanburg Stingers of the Coastal Plain League – a collegiate wooden bat summer league.

On July 8, 2006, Duncan Park turned 80 years old. More than being one of America’s oldest surviving wooden baseball stadiums, the park has been the home to many textile league baseball games – a major part of the social fabric of the Upstate of South Carolina until the mid-1950’s.  Additionally, Duncan Park is the home to 582 seats from Connie Mack Stadium in Philadelphia which were moved to Spartanburg upon that stadium’s demolition in 1971.

With a significant past covering all levels of baseball, Duncan Park’s residential location provides a unique opportunity for social impacts with the youth in the area the park serves. Surrounded by little league diamonds, walking trails, tennis courts and a lake, Duncan Park Stadium sits at the crossroads of the lives of those who not only live in the neighborhoods that surround the stadium but those who come to run, walk and play in the amenities around the stadium.

By restoring Duncan Park Stadium, it will continue to provide an important recreational purpose for all ages while also providing an educational tool for the youth of the area to see first hand the location where past generations came to enjoy the game and the company of their fellow man (i.e. the Textile and Negro Leagues).

Beyond that, since the Friends of Duncan Park formed in mid 2005, the organization has been contacted by those wanting to utilize the stadium for special events, baseball tournaments for travel teams and even youth soccer.  Is there really a future for Duncan Park?  Yes.  And through thoughtful marketing and stewardship from the Friends of Duncan Park, the stadium can again be a source of pride for the community and have a positive economic impact for city and surrounding areas.

The task is great. With no major capital improvements going back to at least 1994, the ballpark must have its exterior wooden façade removed and the entire electrical system must be replaced.  Additionally, there is a shortage of toilets in the facility to meet today’s codes for a public assembly facility that seats roughly 2,500.  The concession stand needs a new exhaust system and the locker rooms are in need of a total overhaul.  Thankfully, the steel and concrete portions of the structure have been deemed to be in good condition.

With the rumors of the park’s demise swirling, the Friends of Duncan Park signed over 1,000 citizens to petitions pledging various levels of support for the project in just over 2 months during the summer of 2006.  There is a precedent for restoration projects such as this. One of the shining examples of success is Rickwood Field in Birmingham, Alabama (1910) – America’s Oldest Baseball Park.

With the knowledge that Duncan Park is a significant part of the history of Spartanburg and the state of South Carolina and the fact that many outside the area still see the stadium in their future plans, we now embark on a fundraising campaign that looks to raise approximately $3 million over the course of the next 3-5 years.  In this, the City of Spartanburg will match the funds raised up to 25% with hospitality tax funds. With staggered giving tiers within the fundraising campaign and the fact that construction will take at least a year, having events in Duncan Park in late 2008 into early 2009 is the current goal.  It is important to note that the park can continue to be used for baseball practices and non-spectator events in the meantime.

Spartanburg is blessed to have South Carolina’s oldest baseball park and through your generosity, generations to come will have the chance to pass through the same gates as thousands of others have for over 80 years