By MADDY VITALE
Richard “Dick” Grimes gave so much to the children in the Ocean City community. He created youth sports programs, and the residents and visitors have benefited from his important contributions for more than 60 years.
But over the years, both residents and city officials have had concerns over muddy conditions when it rains at the low-lying sports complex named in Grimes’ honor, “Richard S. Grimes Athletic Fields.” They have wanted to do something about it.
In total, the city hopes to give the sports facility, known as a hub for recreation in town, a $4.2 million facelift as part of the city’s budget for capital expenses.
On Friday, Mayor Jay Gillian noted that this is a significant facility and Grimes was an outstanding citizen. Plans are in the works to overhaul the facility.
“We are absolutely working on Grimes Field,” he said in an interview. “We should be advancing a design contract in the next four to six weeks.”
The complex’s location in a low-lying area off Bay and Haven avenues, between Fifth and Sixth streets, often results in the grassy fields getting soggy or muddy.
Over the past few years, some residents have spoken up about the conditions at the complex. In July of 2022, resident Laura Wheeler addressed City Council about the muddy field.
“Right now, the conditions are very poor, at the least,” Wheeler, said in July of 2022, adding that her husband is a volunteer coach for the Jr. Raiders, a feeder program for the high school football team that practices at Grimes Field.
Wheeler told Council members that the fields are so soggy that the Jr. Raiders are sometimes unable to practice at the Grimes complex for days. Instead, they have had to practice on the beach.
City officials said the plan is to regrade and raise the fields to make them less susceptible to rain or flooding. New amenities are also under consideration, including better bleachers and bathrooms.
The city is getting ready to approve construction plans for the Grimes Field elevation and renovation, Gillian said.
In addition, the project will include two new press boxes for the softball and baseball fields, as well as a concession stand with storage and batting cages above.
There will be increased diagonal parking along Fifth Street and more netting to protect vehicles along Sixth Street from foul balls.
Gillian said the improvements are “so important.”
“We want to do right by Mr. and Mrs. Grimes,” he said. “This is a tribute to him. They did so much for the community. What they did for the community and the youth is second to none.”
The athletic complex was named in honor of the late community leader, recreation advocate and mentor in 2008. Grimes died in 2014 at the age of 96.
Among his many achievements, he helped organize the Ocean City Youth Athletic Association in 1956 for baseball. He was also active in creating youth basketball and football programs.
The facility serves as the home field for the Ocean City High School baseball team, as well as a practice site for high school softball, Babe Ruth baseball, a men’s baseball league, the Ocean City Nor’easters soccer team and the Jr. Raiders football program.
